Portret van Johan Ali-Wa-Ja 1883 - 1884

This is Friedrich Carel Hisgen’s monochrome photograph, ‘Portret van Johan Ali-Wa-Ja’. The composition presents Johan centrally, his gaze direct, set against a stark background. The subtle tonal gradations create soft modeling of his features, drawing our eye to the symmetry of his face. This invites a reading beyond the purely representational. Consider the semiotics at play here. The photograph, as a medium, inherently carries a sense of objectivity, a capturing of reality. Yet, in its formal construction, it’s also a constructed image. Hisgen’s work challenges us to examine the power dynamics inherent in portraiture, particularly within a colonial context. The very act of framing and naming transforms Johan into an object of study. This photograph thus operates on multiple levels, simultaneously presenting a portrait and questioning the very act of representation itself. It prompts us to reflect on the nature of seeing, knowing, and the complex interplay between subject and object.