Gekostumeerd voetbalelftal van het Centraal Kantoor voor de Statistiek te Batavia Possibly 1935

Editor: Here we have a gelatin-silver print titled "Gekostumeerd voetbalelftal van het Centraal Kantoor voor de Statistiek te Batavia," possibly from 1935, showing a large group of people. It feels like a moment captured, almost staged, yet candid at the same time. What symbolic meanings can you unpack from such a seemingly simple image? Curator: It’s far from simple. Consider the very idea of costume here. In the colonial context of Batavia, now Jakarta, the Dutch administrators dressing up… are they mimicking the locals? Mocking them? Projecting power? It resonates with layers of cultural appropriation, hinting at deeper power dynamics through the act of performance. What cultural memories might the different costumes invoke for different viewers then and now? Editor: I didn’t think of it that way! I was more focused on the novelty of the soccer team in costume. Curator: Precisely. And how might the symbolism of the team sport – a very Western import – contrast or clash with the adopted personas and costumes? Are they building connections or creating a spectacle? Perhaps the blend illustrates the tensions of colonial society. Is it playful or unsettling? Editor: Unsettling, I think. The costumes now feel less celebratory and more like…caricatures. Curator: Caricatures can often unveil deeper psychological projections, anxieties and desires that often reveal more about the creator and society. The act of costuming becomes a coded language. The cultural and emotional impact is undeniable, raising significant questions about the gaze, cultural exchange, and historical representation. Editor: It gives me a lot to consider. Thanks for pointing out those hidden symbols; now I have a better understanding of how loaded an image like this can be. Curator: And perhaps, now you’ll look at other images with fresh eyes, seeing beyond the surface.