Europees gezelschap voor ‘Langkat hotel’ 1890 - 1900

This anonymous photograph, titled “Europees gezelschap voor ‘Langkat hotel’”, depicts a group of European men in front of a building in Langkat, Indonesia. The image, taken between 1890 and 1900, provides a glimpse into European life in the Dutch East Indies. The men are dressed in formal attire, suggesting that they are either businessmen or government officials. The photograph is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam. The composition of the image is straightforward, with the men positioned prominently in the foreground and the building providing a backdrop. The image’s overall tone is formal and documentary, characteristic of the photographic style of the 19th century. This black-and-white photograph, measuring 276 mm by 366 mm, offers a unique insight into the historical intersection of colonialism, travel, and photography in Southeast Asia.