Basreliëf op het pendopo voetstuk aan de westzijde van Candi Panataran. Possibly 1867

Isidore Kinsbergen made this photograph of a bas-relief on the Candi Panataran temple in Java, Indonesia. This temple, constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries, is the largest Hindu temple complex in East Java and remains an important cultural landmark. But this photograph is also a cultural artifact. Kinsbergen, a Dutch photographer active in the mid-19th century, documented the region during a period of Dutch colonial rule. His photographs, while seemingly objective, played a role in shaping European perceptions of Java and its history. We can see the artistry and cultural significance embedded in the bas-relief, the photograph provides a window into the complex interplay between colonial power, cultural preservation, and the representation of history. Historians consult sources like colonial archives, travel writings, and studies of visual culture. By examining them critically, we can begin to understand the complex social and institutional forces that shape our understanding of art.