Groepsportret van mensen in Batuan, gekleed in het wit. c. 1910

Curator: So, let’s delve into this photograph, believed to have been captured around 1910 by Frits Freerks Fontein Fz. It’s titled “Groepsportret van mensen in Batuan, gekleed in het wit," which translates to “Group portrait of people in Batuan, dressed in white.” The sepia tones give it a rather timeless feel, wouldn't you say? Editor: It feels…staged, yet sun-drenched. All that white against the muted tones of the background feels very deliberate, doesn't it? Almost like they’re posing for a painting more than a snapshot. Curator: That’s interesting, the way you perceive it. What’s noteworthy is the clear hierarchy being displayed here. White clothing, as seen here, has complex colonial significance and acts as a visual signifier of power. Editor: It makes me wonder about the unseen narratives. They're all dressed impeccably, in their whites. Yet, you sense that picture-perfect scene hides so much more. Are they comfortable? Do they feel represented? Curator: Precisely. As the image is titled, Batuan suggests a Balinese location, but this photograph represents Orientalism and is emblematic of colonial-era dynamics of representation. I suppose photography would’ve then served to reinforce existing power structures. Editor: Definitely. Beyond the formal composition, you almost imagine them breaking character the second the photo is taken – that little burst of life which refuses to be entirely contained. Curator: Well put. It brings to the forefront the artifice inherent in the photograph as an object – we must remember that is shaped by the photographer's intent. The act of documentation is also an act of shaping history. Editor: Which makes you think, right? These ghosts captured on film now invite us to question their story…to rewrite what we thought we knew. Each viewing offers a fresh layer of questions and possible re-interpretations. Curator: Precisely! Hopefully this dialogue enables the viewers to re-interpret existing paradigms.