Batavia - Rijswijk 1863 - 1866

This albumen print, "Batavia - Rijswijk", by Woodbury & Page, presents a streetscape notable for its stark geometric composition. The photograph is structured by strong receding lines that draw the eye into the distance, flanked by colonial buildings with repetitive architectural elements. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the play of light and shadow, highlighting the formal qualities of the architecture. The buildings on either side, characterized by their colonnades and symmetrical facades, create a sense of order and control. Consider how this calculated arrangement reflects the colonial project's ambition to impose a rational, Western framework onto the landscape. The receding perspective and the careful placement of architectural forms may be read as signs within a broader system of colonial representation, where space itself becomes a tool for asserting power and structuring social relations. The photograph invites us to reflect on the ways in which colonial power is visually encoded in the built environment, and how these formal elements contribute to the construction of meaning within a specific historical and cultural context.