Portret van een onbekende Moamuria vrouw uit Assam before 1868

This is a photographic portrait by Benjamin Simpson, portraying an unknown Moamuria woman from Assam. The photograph captures the woman in a stark, oval frame, focusing intently on her form and adornments. The contrast between the dark tones of her skin and the lighter shades of her clothing creates a visual tension. The necklaces, with their varied textures and layers, draw attention to the neck and chest area, highlighting the cultural significance of adornment. Simpson’s use of light and shadow does more than illuminate; it articulates difference. The woman’s gaze, directed slightly off-center, invites speculation about her thoughts. The composition, tightly cropped, removes extraneous context, emphasizing the individual while simultaneously categorizing her within a colonial framework. The photograph exists not merely as a record, but as a signifier, encoding cultural narratives and power dynamics of its time. It serves as a reminder of how visual representation can both reveal and conceal aspects of identity and culture.