Gezicht op de Hotelstraat in Medan, Sumatra (Hotelstrasse Medan) c. 1890 - 1900

Stafhell & Kleingrothe's photograph captures the Hotelstraat in Medan, Sumatra. This image invites us to reflect on the era of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia. The photograph offers a seemingly neutral view of a street, but the colonial context permeates every detail. Medan was a city transformed by Dutch economic interests, particularly in tobacco plantations. The Hotelstraat symbolizes the colonizers' attempt to create a European enclave amidst a colonized landscape. The orderly arrangement of trees and the presence of Western-style buildings reflect the imposition of colonial order and aesthetics. Who were the people that strolled down this street? What was the experience for the Indigenous people? This photograph serves as a visual document of power dynamics and cultural imposition. It subtly reveals the complexities and contradictions inherent in the colonial project. It reminds us of the importance of critically examining seemingly benign images for their underlying political and social narratives.