Batavia - Huis van den Resident 1863 - 1866

This albumen print, ‘Batavia - Huis van den Resident’, was made by Woodbury & Page. The photograph presents a structure divided by the strong vertical lines of its many columns, equally spaced across the front of the building, creating a pattern of solids and voids. The eye is led horizontally along the façade and its low-pitched roof, where the darkness of the foliage in the background contrasts with the building's stark white exterior, emphasizing its constructed and geometric form. The tonal range of the image, from the dark leaves to the bright white walls, draws attention to the interplay between organic and constructed forms. The ordered, classical architectural style reflects the values of the colonial administration, imposing a sense of control over the landscape. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension, where the natural environment meets the ordered structure, and the underlying discourse reveals a complex interplay of power. The image invites us to consider the relationship between culture, power, and representation within the visual landscape.