Een heilige tempel met elf daken op zuid Bali 1900 - 1915

Johanna Hermina Marmelstein created this print of a holy temple with eleven roofs in South Bali. I can imagine the journey that Marmelstein took to get here, what it might have been like to stand in this very spot. Her photographic print captures the architectural details of this sacred place – the layering of the roofs, the intricate carvings, and the way the light filters through the trees. This print is not just a visual record; it’s a conversation. Marmelstein is engaging with a tradition, echoing the works of other artists who have sought to capture the essence of spiritual places. I wonder if she knew the people who worshipped here, or the craftspeople who built these roofs? The way she frames the temple suggests a reverence, a desire to understand and connect with the cultural significance of the site. It shows us how the act of observing and recording can be a deeply personal and transformative experience.