Gezicht op een woning te Mataram before 1897

Christiaan Johan Neeb captured this photograph titled "Gezicht op een woning te Mataram" in the late 19th or early 20th century. Neeb, born in 1860, lived during a time of significant colonial expansion, where the Dutch East Indies were under Dutch rule. This image offers us a glimpse into the domestic sphere of that era. The house, with its architectural style, reflects the presence of Dutch influence in Mataram. It raises questions about the cultural exchanges and power dynamics at play. Who lived in this house? Was it a Dutch family, or a local family adapting to colonial styles? Beyond the physical structure, what stories do the unseen inhabitants hold? This photograph invites us to consider the experiences of those living in a colonized land, and how their identities were shaped by this landscape. The everyday is full of political implication. It subtly documents a moment in time, inviting reflections on the legacies of colonialism and its impact on identity.