Vissers op het strand te Ampenan before 1897

This photograph titled 'Vissers op het strand te Ampenan' showing fishermen on the beach at Ampenan, was taken by Christiaan Johan Neeb at an unknown date. Neeb lived and worked in the Dutch East Indies. This image speaks to the complex social structures of the colonial period, particularly Dutch expansion into Indonesia. The composition frames the local fishermen, the beach, and their activities through a colonial gaze that exoticizes their daily lives. It's a snapshot of labor, but also of power dynamics, where the photographer, likely representing colonial interests, captures a scene that reinforces existing hierarchies. Understanding this work requires us to delve into the archives, looking at colonial records, travelogues, and the visual culture of the period. Only through this interdisciplinary approach can we fully appreciate the complex interplay of culture, power, and representation embedded in this single image.