Dewatempel bij Tjakra Negara tijdens Lombok-expeditie 1894 before 1898

Christiaan Johan Neeb created this photograph of the Dewatempel at Tjakra Negara in 1894, during the Lombok expedition. This image provides a window into a complex moment in the colonial history of Indonesia. The photograph depicts a Balinese temple during a Dutch military campaign, which was a violent assertion of colonial power. The temple, with its intricate carvings and towering structures, represents the rich cultural heritage of the Balinese people, who are resistant to Dutch rule. What does it mean to produce art under conditions of military occupation? It raises questions about the power dynamics inherent in the act of documentation and representation. Was Neeb acting as a neutral observer, or was he complicit in the colonial project? To fully understand the photograph, we need to delve into the archives, examining military records, colonial correspondence, and indigenous accounts of the Lombok expedition. This image's meaning emerges from the historical context in which it was created.