Pasfoto van een deelnemer aan een cursus van de Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage c. 1930s - 1940s

This photograph captures a woman attending the Colonial School for Girls and Women in The Hague. Its monochrome palette and compact dimensions create an intimate viewing experience, drawing attention to the sitter’s composed expression. The texture of the photograph itself, with its scratches and slight imperfections, adds a layer of time, suggesting its age and the many hands it may have passed through. The formal composition reflects a deliberate attempt to present a specific image. The woman's neat hairstyle and tailored jacket are indicative of the structured environment of the colonial school, which aimed to prepare women for roles within the colonial system. The photograph’s structure—the subject framed against a plain background—implies a desire for clarity, yet the sitter’s subtle gaze introduces ambiguity. She is positioned in a way that destabilizes a straightforward reading; rather than direct engagement, her sidelong glance encourages speculation. Ultimately, this photograph functions beyond a mere portrait. It becomes a site where identity, representation, and the complex history of colonialism intersect. The interplay of light, texture, and composition allows us to reflect on the cultural codes and power dynamics embedded in this historical artifact.