Gezicht op een landschap aan een water before 1897

Christiaan Johan Neeb captured this landscape scene on paper sometime between 1880 and 1925. It reflects the Dutch colonial presence in what is now Indonesia. The image offers insight into the colonial gaze. The serene landscape, with its lush vegetation and calm waters, is presented for European consumption. It's a romanticized view, likely intended to evoke a sense of exoticism and control over the land. This imagery served to reinforce the colonial power structure, portraying the region as both beautiful and ripe for exploitation. To fully understand this photograph, we need to consider the economic structures of the time. Dutch colonial rule was built on resource extraction and agricultural production. This image, reproduced in publications, would have contributed to the narrative of a productive and profitable colony, justifying continued domination. Researching colonial archives and economic reports of the era would shed further light on its purpose and impact.