Reisalbum van Karel Frederik van den Berg met foto's uit Java 1921

This is Karel Frederik van den Berg's 'Reisalbum van Karel Frederik van den Berg met foto's uit Java', whose date is currently unknown. Van den Berg, born in 1873, was an administrator in the Dutch East Indies. This album is a poignant artifact reflecting the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. It invites us to consider the gaze through which Van den Berg, as a Dutchman in Java, perceived and documented his experiences. What stories did he choose to tell through his photographs, and what perspectives might be missing? Consider the power dynamics at play. As you look at the images within, think about the narratives being constructed and the voices that may have been silenced. This album is not just a personal memento but also a historical document that speaks to broader themes of imperialism, representation, and cultural exchange. It embodies the intertwined personal and political dimensions inherent in colonial artifacts.