Plantagehuis op "Ma retraite" 1903 - 1910

Editor: Here we have "Plantagehuis op 'Ma retraite'" a gelatin silver print, by Hendrik Doijer, dating from sometime between 1903 and 1910. The composition and the soft grays evoke a feeling of faded grandeur. What strikes you about this photograph? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to consider this photograph within the history of Dutch colonialism and visual representation. “Ma Retraite,” or “My Retreat”, suggests a specific type of dwelling in a colonial context, pointing us towards examining power structures and the representation of space within colonial imagery. Editor: Can you explain that a bit more? The power structures you mentioned? Curator: Well, photographs of colonial dwellings like this one often served multiple purposes. On the one hand, they were used to document colonial presence and development for audiences back in Europe. They also circulated within colonial society itself. How do you think that could have influenced the representation and reception of an image like this? Editor: I guess the idyllic portrayal, the "retreat," may conceal the less appealing realities of colonialism for the privileged elite while perhaps romanticizing colonial life to people in the Netherlands. The contrast between the meticulous house and the unruly foliage is also fascinating. Curator: Exactly. Also note that the carefully arranged objects in the foreground - the gazebo, the scattered barrel, and even the placement of the camera itself – were tools in creating the narrative that best benefitted and reflected the colonial agenda. Editor: It's interesting to consider the layers of intentionality in this image; it feels so artless at first glance. This makes me rethink how photography and art at large can play into political discourse. Curator: Indeed, Hendrik Doijer's work gives a specific, and politically-charged viewpoint. That can shape the identity and cultural imagination for generations, even down to us today.