Bewoner van het eiland Timor in Indonesië 1822

Jacques Etienne Victor Arago created this print, "Inhabitant of the island of Timor in Indonesia", using engraving. Arago's work gives us a glimpse into the visual culture of the colonial era, a time when European artists frequently depicted people from distant lands through a Western lens. This image presents us with a man from Timor, his stance and attire carefully rendered for a European audience. Consider the power dynamics inherent in such portrayals. What does it mean for an artist from one culture to represent someone from another? How might this image reflect or shape European perceptions of non-European peoples? The print provides a window into how cultural encounters were mediated and understood during a period of intense global exchange and colonial expansion. It invites us to think critically about the ways in which identity, culture, and power intersect in the creation and interpretation of images.