Portret van een dochter van de Orang Kaya (dorpshoofd) van Af(f)ara op het eiland Workai, Aru eilanden, Zuidoost-Molukken c. 1837 - 1854

Ernest Alfred Hardouin made this portrait of a village chief’s daughter from the Aru Islands in Southeast Maluku using watercolor and graphite. The flat application of the watercolors, combined with precise graphite lines, defines the figure against the plain background. These are not materials indigenous to the Aru Islands. Hardouin, who worked for the Dutch colonial army, would have had access to these portable materials, along with the training to render a quick likeness during his travels. Yet, the true subject is the young woman herself, adorned with a shell necklace, earrings, and bracelets. These are the true materials of value here. The title identifies her social standing, while the jewelry speaks of local traditions of adornment, and of the labor required to produce them. Considering the social context of its production, this work invites us to reflect on the power dynamics of colonialism, and the importance of cultural heritage.