Gezicht op een koraalrif bij Suva before 1899

This photogravure, titled *Gezicht op een koraalrif bij Suva*, presents a reef flat near Suva. It was produced by W. McM. Woodworth using the photogravure technique, a printing process that translates a photographic image into an etched copper plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. The process allows for a rich tonal range, seen in the subtle gradations of light and shadow across the reef and sky. This highly skilled process, involving chemical and mechanical expertise, speaks to the industrialized nature of image production at the time. The photogravure allowed for mass production, democratizing access to images of distant lands and natural wonders. Yet, we might also consider the context in which these images were made. They served not only as records but also as tools of colonial representation, framing these distant islands for Western audiences. Examining both the material and the context invites us to consider how photography participated in broader social and political projects.