Twee mensen aan de oever van de Soengei-Bowaya op Sumatra before 1898

This silver gelatin print by Carl Kleingrothe captures two figures by the Soengei-Bowaya river in Sumatra, Indonesia. It offers us a glimpse into the colonial gaze and the representation of the 'exotic' landscape during the late 19th or early 20th century. The photograph visualizes the lush Sumatran landscape, framing the indigenous people within it. Consider the historical context: the Dutch East Indies, a colony exploited for its resources. How does this image participate in constructing a narrative of colonial power and control? What role did photography play in shaping perceptions of the colonized world for European audiences? Historians can use sources like colonial archives, travelogues, and anthropological studies to understand this image. Thinking about its visual codes, its cultural references, and historical associations encourages us to critically examine the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shape artistic production.