Batavia - Commensalenhuis Ernst 1863 - 1866

This photograph of Commensalenhuis Ernst in Batavia, now Jakarta, was taken by Woodbury & Page. Although the exact date is unknown, it offers a glimpse into the complex social and cultural dynamics of colonial Indonesia. Batavia was the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, and later the capital of the Dutch East Indies. Woodbury & Page were among the most successful commercial photographers in Java during the colonial era. They captured images of landscapes, architecture, and people, catering primarily to a European audience. The image presents a seemingly placid scene of colonial life: a grand European-style building, lush greenery, and figures casually posed. However, this idyllic facade masks the underlying power structures of colonialism, raising questions about the labor and resources that sustained this lifestyle. Who are these people, and what are their stories? It invites us to reflect on the selective narratives of colonial photography and the lives that often remain unseen.