Twee mannen voor een gebouw 1863 - 1869

Woodbury and Page, a studio active in the Dutch East Indies, made this photograph of two men in front of a building using the wet collodion process. This albumen print offers a window into the social and economic structures of colonial Indonesia. The architecture in the background, a blend of European and local styles, speaks to the complex cultural exchange happening at the time. The two men, one in a pith helmet, represent the European presence and the colonial administration. The lush vegetation almost obscures the subjects, perhaps alluding to the hidden aspects of colonial exploitation. Photographs like this were often commissioned by the colonial government or private companies to document their activities and project an image of progress and control. However, as viewers, we need to understand the photographer's choices and the power dynamics at play. By researching the archives of colonial photography, we can understand how these images helped to legitimize colonial rule.