Blad 151 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1948

This is page 151 from a register of students at the Colonial School for Girls and Women in The Hague, dating from between 1930 and 1949. It documents the personal details, origins, and later whereabouts of young women associated with the Dutch colonial project. The book is filled with photographs. The presence of these images creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The Netherlands’ colonial reach extended to places like present-day Indonesia, which was then called the Dutch East Indies. This was a time of complex social and political dynamics, where ideas about race, class, and gender were deeply embedded in the colonial system. The Colonial School in The Hague was an institutional part of this. Did it seek to reinforce or subtly critique the existing social norms? Understanding this artwork requires us to delve into the archives of colonial history, exploring the records of institutions and the personal stories of those who lived through this era. Art becomes a window into the past, reflecting the complex interplay of power, identity, and social change.