Agentschap der Javasche Bank 1886

Kassian Cephas, a Javanese photographer, captured this image of the Agentschap der Javasche Bank, likely in the late 19th century. This photograph offers a glimpse into the economic landscape of colonial Java. The Javasche Bank, the central bank of the Dutch East Indies, symbolized Dutch financial power and control over the region's resources. Cephas, working within this colonial context, presents a seemingly objective view of the bank's agency. But the photograph's deeper significance lies in its subtle commentary on the social structures of the time. The presence of local figures in the periphery suggests the complex relationship between the colonizers and the colonized. To fully understand this image, historians consult archival records, colonial documents, and Javanese perspectives. Only then can we truly grasp the intricate web of power and representation at play in colonial Java.