Fort Rotterdam in Makassar 1855 - 1880

This photograph of Fort Rotterdam in Makassar was taken by Woodbury & Page using a process that was cutting-edge for its time. The albumen print, made from a glass negative, showcases the fort with remarkable clarity and detail, capturing a moment of colonial presence in Indonesia. Consider the technology involved: the meticulous preparation of the glass plate, the careful exposure and development, and the printing onto paper coated with albumen, derived from egg whites. These steps demanded skilled labor, embedding the image in a web of social and economic relations. The photograph also embodies the context of Dutch colonial expansion, the fort standing as a symbol of power and control. Woodbury & Page weren't just artists, they were entrepreneurs, documenting and disseminating images that shaped perceptions of the East Indies back in Europe. By emphasizing the materiality and process of this photograph, we can recognize the complex layers of technology, labor, and colonial history woven into the image, prompting a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.