Portret van een onbekende Kanyang man uit Assam before 1868

This is a photograph by Benjamin Simpson, taken sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts an unidentified Kanyang man from Assam, a region in northeastern India. Simpson, as a British military officer and photographer, was part of the colonial presence in India. This context shapes how we view this portrait. Photography during this era often served colonial interests, documenting and classifying people and cultures, sometimes reinforcing power dynamics. The man's direct gaze carries a sense of dignity, yet the photograph's existence speaks to the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. What does it mean to have one's image captured and disseminated by an external power? This portrait makes me consider the layers of representation, the nuances of identity, and the unspoken stories embedded within its frame. It reflects both a historical moment of colonial encounter and the enduring presence of a distinct cultural identity.