Portret van een staande Indonesische vrouw 1857 - 1880

This albumen print features a standing Indonesian woman and was created by Woodbury & Page. The studio was known for its ethnographic photographs during a period of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia. The woman is formally posed, adjacent to a chair, in what seems to be a studio setting. Her clothes offer a glimpse into the complex interplay of cultural identity during this era. She is dressed in a traditional batik skirt, paired with a Western-style white top, showing a fusion of Indonesian and European styles, reflecting the colonial influences present in her life. The photograph prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in colonial portraiture. Was this image created for scientific documentation, to satisfy European curiosity, or something else? What agency did the sitter have in how she was presented? This photograph captures a moment frozen in time, inviting us to reflect on the intertwined histories of identity, representation, and colonialism.