Batavia - Rijswijk 1863 - 1866

This albumen print shows the Java Hotel in Rijswijk, Batavia, photographed by Woodbury & Page. The scene is dominated by neoclassical columns, evocative of ancient temples. These architectural elements, recurring motifs from antiquity, whisper tales of power, order, and civilization. Columns appear throughout history—from the temples of Greece to the Roman Empire, symbols of stability and cultural memory. We see them again here, in a hotel in colonial Indonesia, laden with new meaning. The neoclassical style served as a conscious attempt to evoke European cultural values in a distant land. This visual language, passed down through generations, becomes a symbol of colonial authority. The columns speak to our subconscious, connecting us to a shared, collective memory. This image engages viewers on a profound level by invoking a sense of both familiarity and displacement. These recurring motifs do not follow a linear path; they resurface, evolve, and are imbued with new meanings, bearing witness to the ever-changing course of history.