Gezicht op een rivier 1875 - 1890

C. Dietrich's photograph presents a river landscape, its precise date shrouded in the anonymity that often accompanies early colonial photography. Here, the river isn't merely a natural feature; it's a channel through which colonial power and scientific curiosity flowed. During this era, photography was used as a tool to document and categorize landscapes and people, reinforcing Western perceptions and control. The composition invites the viewer to survey the scene, subtly mirroring the colonial gaze. The lush vegetation contrasts with the stark stones in the riverbed, perhaps revealing the tension between the romantic vision of an untouched paradise and the extractive, exploitative practices of the time. Dietrich’s work invites us to reflect on how landscapes are not just seen but also used, claimed, and remembered, especially through the selective lens of colonial history.