Woonhuis 1863 - 1866

Woodbury & Page captured this photograph, titled 'Woonhuis', and preserved within the Rijksmuseum collection. The image presents a dwelling, most likely located in the Dutch East Indies, in the late 19th century. Consider how the architecture blends European and indigenous styles, reflecting the complex social hierarchy of the colony. The 'Woonhuis' or residence, signifies more than just a home; it embodies the power dynamics of colonial society. Who lived here? What was their relationship to the local population? Photographs like this served a crucial role in shaping European perceptions of colonial spaces. They were collected in albums and displayed in parlors, reinforcing ideas of exoticism and domination. Visual records created by institutions like the Rijksmuseum become vital resources for understanding the intertwined histories of colonizer and colonized.