Woonhuis met tuin 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen captured this photograph entitled "Woonhuis met tuin," or "House with Garden," using a black and white film camera. It provides a glimpse into the domestic life of the Dutch East Indies. The image reveals a colonial bungalow, its architecture adapted to the tropical climate. Vast gardens surround the building. Hisgen's photograph reflects the social hierarchy of the time, portraying the privileged lifestyle of the Dutch colonizers in contrast to the indigenous population. Photographs such as this circulated through family albums or colonial institutions, shaping perceptions of the colony and reinforcing ideas of Dutch authority. The image operates as a visual shorthand for a complex web of social, economic, and political relationships. To fully understand this photograph, we could consult colonial archives, personal letters, and ethnographic studies. These primary sources can reveal the social conditions that produced the artwork. This allows a deeper insight into the role of photography in shaping colonial power structures.