Gomboom in de Plantentuin van paleis Buitenzorg 1870 - 1908

Editor: This albumen print, “Gomboom in de Plantentuin van paleis Buitenzorg,” made sometime between 1870 and 1908 by Woodbury & Page, really captures a sense of grandeur in this Javanese botanical garden. The sheer size and the sprawling roots are mesmerizing. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: The fascinating thing to me is how this photograph functions as both a scientific record and a colonial artifact. Albumen printing was a resource-intensive process, requiring skilled labor to produce the paper and expose the image. The “gomboom,” or banyan tree, itself is not just a botanical specimen, but a raw material and commodity. What does its monumental scale suggest to you? Editor: I suppose the scale emphasizes the exoticism of the location for a Western audience. Was photography used to justify colonial activities? Curator: Precisely. These images, circulated in Europe, promoted a romantic vision of the East, simultaneously encouraging resource extraction and trade. The labor required for both the botanical garden’s upkeep and the creation of these prints themselves highlights a complex dynamic of exploitation and representation. What about the composition stands out to you, in relation to this? Editor: I see. The roots, almost clawing out of the frame, give the impression of something both impressive and maybe a bit menacing in their grasp, symbolizing the colonial ambition to control resources. Curator: Exactly. This photograph isn’t just a depiction of nature; it's evidence of a specific system of production, labor, and control during a specific historical moment. Considering the chemical processes involved in albumen printing, it quite literally represents the extraction of resources for both botanical study and cultural consumption. Editor: I hadn't considered all of those layers. Seeing the labor involved definitely changes how I view it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's amazing to look beyond the immediate subject matter and to unpack the economic and social context that shapes the work.