Piet Idenburg, Anton, To, vrouw van Brussel en kind bij miereneter 1903 - 1910

Hendrik Doijer made this photograph, titled 'Piet Idenburg, Anton, To, vrouw van Brussel en kind bij miereneter', at an unknown date. The image presents a family posing with an anteater, likely in a colonial setting. The subjects' attire and the backdrop of what seems to be a tropical landscape suggest a specific time and place marked by colonial presence. The photograph may reflect the social dynamics of colonial encounters, the relationship between colonizers and the natural world, and the exoticization of local fauna. The fact that it was exhibited tells us about the institutions that validated and circulated such imagery, shaping perceptions of the world. To fully understand this photograph, one could research the history of Dutch colonialism, exhibition history, and the role of photography in documenting and shaping colonial narratives. Ultimately, the image is a product of complex historical circumstances, and its meaning is contingent on understanding the social and institutional context in which it was produced and viewed.