Fabriek 1886

Kassian Céphas made this photograph of a factory in Java, Indonesia, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Its sepia tones and composition reflect the aesthetics of the colonial era. The image presents us with a stark contrast: the industrial architecture of the factory set against a field, presumably of the crop it processes. The factory's chimney dominates the skyline, a symbol of modernity imposed on the landscape. Céphas, as a Javanese photographer working during Dutch colonial rule, occupied a unique position. His work provides valuable insight into the visual culture of the time. Was he consciously critiquing the incursion of industrialization into the Indonesian landscape? Or was he simply documenting the changing face of his homeland? To understand the full implications of this image, one might delve into the archives of colonial trade, explore the history of sugar or rubber production in Java, and consider the role of photography in shaping perceptions of colonial spaces.