Portret van een staande Indonesische vrouw met mand 1857 - 1880

Woodbury & Page created this photograph, "Portret van een staande Indonesische vrouw met mand," using an albumen print. During the colonial era, photography studios like Woodbury & Page played a significant role in shaping Western perceptions of non-Western cultures. This image, like many others from that time, was likely created for a Western audience eager to consume exoticized representations of the East. The young woman's traditional clothing and bare feet speak to a constructed image of Indonesian identity, carefully curated for the colonial gaze. The basket she holds could be seen as a symbol of labor and the economic exploitation of the region. Consider how the photographer positions her: is she an individual, or a stand-in for an entire culture? Through the lens of contemporary theory, we can examine how this photograph perpetuates power imbalances and reinforces colonial narratives. It invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural representation and the responsibility of interpreting historical images with a critical eye.