Het residentiehuis in Surabaya 1876 - 1884

Curator: This gelatin-silver print by Herman Salzwedel, dating from 1876-1884, offers a view of the Residency House in Surabaya. The composition shows the building reflected in the water. What are your initial impressions? Editor: It feels strangely serene. The tonal range is narrow, creating an almost ethereal mood. The focus on the water's surface definitely draws me in. There's a sense of stillness, despite it being a cityscape. Curator: Precisely. Salzwedel captured this image during a period of significant colonial expansion in the Dutch East Indies. The Residency House served as a locus of colonial power. How do we read this depiction today in the wake of Indonesian independence? Editor: From a material perspective, the gelatin-silver print, developed on toned paper, indicates the available resources and technologies in Salzwedel’s era. These choices aren’t just aesthetic; they speak to trade, labor, and consumption in this region. It would be interesting to know about how these images might have traveled from Surabaya to Western markets and collectors. Curator: Yes, and it also leads to questions about the representation of power. How was it captured and for whom? Consider the social function of images that perpetuate particular notions of place. Editor: True, thinking about its original context raises questions about visibility, erasure, and who had access to images like this one. Who gets represented and who controls representation really matters when analyzing this piece. How do you view this photograph from a gender perspective? Curator: That is interesting, because although gender doesn't immediately stand out, thinking about colonial architecture opens paths for deeper investigations: who resided here and performed the day-to-day labor and who was represented or omitted by the visuality of the residency? Editor: Examining these layers has definitely expanded my initial perception. The photo felt like a static snapshot at first, but clearly, it's very generative! Curator: Agreed. Looking closely helps us examine and discuss dynamics of representation, power and privilege tied to historical realities.