Islamitische graven in West-Java, Banjaran (?) c. 1816 - 1846

Jannes Theodorus Bik made this drawing of Islamic graves in West-Java, Banjaran with graphite. Bik, born in the Netherlands, lived and worked in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, during a time of colonial expansion and cultural exchange. The image presents a seemingly straightforward depiction of a burial site. Yet, it invites us to consider the gaze through which it was created. What does it mean to document a sacred space through the eyes of a colonizer? How might the act of observation and documentation influence the ways in which the cultural practices of the local population are perceived and understood? The drawing prompts us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation, and how those dynamics shape our understanding of different cultures and beliefs. It encourages us to confront uncomfortable questions about the historical context of the piece, and our role as viewers in perpetuating certain narratives.