Ruïne van Tjandi Lora Djongrang 1852 - 1856

Cornelis Springer created this drawing of the Ruin of Tjandi Lora Djongrang in pen and brush in the 19th Century. It depicts the Prambanan Temple Compound in Java, Indonesia, built in the 9th century during the Hindu Mataram Kingdom. Springer’s choice to depict the temple as a ruin reflects a broader European fascination with the "exotic" East, particularly with crumbling empires. The temple's state of disrepair may have served as a symbol of the perceived decline of Eastern civilizations compared to the ascendant West. Consider the institutional context: the Dutch East India Company's presence in Indonesia. Springer's drawing subtly reinforces a colonial narrative of European power and Eastern decline. To fully understand this work, we need to consult historical records, colonial archives, and accounts from the period. It shows us how artistic interpretations are bound to both personal biases and broader cultural and political contexts.