Koetsen 1868 - 1881

This print, made by Gualtherus Kolff, combines images and text to teach about daily life in the Dutch East Indies. Lithography, the printing technique used here, allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. Look closely at the scenes depicted. Each vignette highlights a specific activity and its associated vocabulary, revealing the layers of labor involved in maintaining a colonial infrastructure. The image captures the rhythms of work, from the stablehand tending to the horses, to the coachman preparing the carriage, to the workers toiling in the rice fields. There is the Koesir, the Ember, the Ganti Koeda, and the Koentji kareta. Notice the contrasting depictions of labor and leisure, suggesting the unequal distribution of wealth and power. The print is also an artifact of Dutch colonial expansion, as the Western-style clothing worn by some figures alongside the Javanese architecture suggests the intersection of cultures. By paying attention to the materials, making, and context of this print, we can gain a deeper understanding of its significance. It reveals the economic and social forces at play in a colonial society, while also blurring the boundaries between education, documentation, and art.