David Ketel met de Koreaanse Prins Fridi bij een tempel-school 1952

David Ketel made this photograph of himself with the Korean Prince Fridi at a temple school. The photograph offers insight into the social and cultural encounters of the mid-20th century. Notice Ketel's prominent placement alongside Prince Fridi, which suggests a relationship of equals. The presence of Korean children in front of a traditional temple-school creates a striking contrast between tradition and modernity. The cultural exchange between Westerners and Koreans during that period reflects the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production. It's likely this image was influenced by the Korean War and the subsequent influx of Western influence. For a deeper understanding, one might explore missionary archives and colonial photography. By understanding these contexts, we can appreciate how this photograph serves as a historical document.