Huis en personeel 1863 - 1869

This albumen print, titled 'House and Staff' was produced by Woodbury & Page. It depicts a house in Indonesia, likely during the late 19th century when the region was under Dutch colonial rule. This historical context is crucial to understanding the photograph. The house, with its hybrid of European and Indonesian architectural elements, symbolizes the complex cultural interactions that occurred during colonization. What might escape our immediate attention is the power dynamic inherent in this seemingly simple image. The presence of the local staff, captured here on the periphery, hints at the social hierarchy enforced by colonial systems. The photograph, therefore, acts as a visual document of the social and economic disparities perpetuated during this era. How does the arrangement of the people in the photo make you feel? By prompting these questions, the photograph invites us to reflect on the legacies of colonialism.