Portret van een onbekende Indonesische familie en twee onbekende Europese kinderen, in Makassar 1905 - 1920

This photograph, taken in Makassar by Wah Seng, depicts an Indonesian family alongside two European children. The image provides a window into the social complexities of colonial Indonesia. During this period, photography studios flourished, catering to a diverse clientele that included both the colonizers and the colonized. The inclusion of both Indonesian and European children in this family portrait raises questions about the relationships between these groups. Were the European children part of the family or were they included to make a social point? By studying photographs like this one, we can explore how visual media played a role in shaping social relations, colonial power dynamics, and the construction of identity in this time and place. Examining archival sources such as colonial records, newspapers, and personal accounts, can help us to better understand the historical context of the photograph and the stories it might tell. The meaning of the artwork is contingent on this social and institutional context.