Fotoreproductie van een tekening, voorstellende twee vrouwen met kinderen van de Mondunga before 1899

This photogravure shows two drawings representing the Mondunga people, its lines are sharply defined, and the composition is divided by the book's central crease. Each drawing presents a different group, offering a comparative glimpse into their lives. The figures are placed against rudimentary backdrops that suggest their dwellings and environment. The artist’s formal approach reflects a detached observation, reducing the subjects to types through a formal, almost taxonomic lens. This manner of representation reflects the colonial context. The drawings become signs, encoding power dynamics and cultural assumptions. Notice how the artist uses line and form to communicate difference. This underscores how visual representation is not just descriptive but deeply implicated in the construction of meaning and the exercise of power. Each mark and composition choice contributes to a narrative that is both seen and interpreted.