Groep onbekende kinderen bij een weeshuis, Groep onbekende trappisten, Groep onbekende personen en Groepsportret van een band met instrumenten before 1897

This undated photogravure print by Imprimerie des Lazaristes presents us with a series of group images, each offering a glimpse into distinct communities and activities, likely within a colonial context. The photographs invite questions about the representation and agency of these communities, including children in an orphanage and Trappist monks. Consider the power dynamics inherent in these images. What does it mean to be photographed in this way? The inclusion of a band with instruments points to the complex interplay of cultural exchange and appropriation. What is the relationship between the photographer, the photographed, and the audience viewing these images? In what ways are they performing, and for whom? Reflecting on these group dynamics, we can consider the roles of community, identity, and representation. These images capture moments of shared experience, while also raising questions about the gaze, about who gets to document whom, and for what purposes.