Roeier in actie, vermoedelijk in de wateren van Sydney c. 1890 - 1910

This photograph, "Roeier in actie, vermoedelijk in de wateren van Sydney," was taken by Charles Bayliss in the late 19th century, a period marked by significant colonial expansion in Australia. Bayliss, celebrated for his landscape photography, here captures a serene, yet subtly complex scene of leisure on Sydney's waterways. Rowing, an activity increasingly accessible to the middle class, becomes a focal point against the backdrop of sailing yachts, symbols of wealth and privilege. The lone rower's labor contrasts with the leisurely sailing, hinting at social stratification. Consider the historical context: the impact of British colonization on indigenous populations and their displacement from these very waters. While the photograph presents an image of progress and recreation, it also obscures the histories of dispossession and cultural erasure. The photograph invites us to reflect on the complex interplay of leisure, labor, and the legacies of colonialism.