Portret van een jonge, zittende Indonesische vrouw 1857 - 1880

This photograph, “Portret van een jonge, zittende Indonesische vrouw”, was created by Woodbury & Page. Notice how the composition is rigidly formal. A seated young woman is centered within an ornate frame, her gaze direct, her posture controlled. The photograph’s subdued tones emphasize texture and pattern – the intricate textile draped over the table, the subtle sheen of her clothing, and the geometric designs of her sarong. This formal arrangement serves to highlight the semiotics of representation. The attention to detail in her clothing, coupled with the structured pose, speaks to the construction of identity within the colonial context. The photograph becomes a document, a record of an encounter between cultures. Consider the dual nature of such a portrait: It is an attempt to capture an individual, yet it simultaneously reinforces cultural distance. The woman’s direct gaze challenges the viewer, disrupting the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. It questions whether the portrait reflects her identity or merely a colonial imposition.