Basreliëf op het voetstuk van een pendopo, afgesloten door een Naga aan de oostzijde van Candi Panataran Possibly 1867

This photographic image captured by Isidore Kinsbergen presents a bas-relief on the pendopo of Candi Panataran. The stone carving shows figures and structures of religious significance. Consider how the very act of carving the stone— its material resistance— infuses the scene with a sense of permanence. This is a backbreaking task, requiring skilled hands to translate religious stories into durable form. The labor intensiveness of this work speaks to the high value placed on the narratives depicted. Photography also required craft; Kinsbergen was likely a skilled darkroom worker. His choice of black and white photography gives the impression that the work is from a distant past. By considering the work and the photograph’s processes, we can grasp the devotion invested in this monument, and also think about how photography changes our relationship to objects in general.