Portret van twee vrouwen van de Ngbandi te Bokula 1896

This photograph of two Ngbandi women from Bokula was taken by Franz Thonner, sometime around the late 19th or early 20th century. The image is striking, not only for its directness but also for what it reveals about the photographer's, and by extension, European society's perception of African people. Created during a period of intense colonial activity, the image participates in the visual rhetoric of the time, where photography was often used as a tool for cataloging and controlling colonized populations. Notice the clinical, almost anthropological style. The women are presented as specimens, their bodies on display, devoid of context or individuality. The image reduces the women to objects of study, reinforcing the power dynamics inherent in colonial relationships. By understanding the social and institutional context in which this photograph was created, we can begin to unpack its complex layers of meaning. Researching colonial archives and literature from the period would give us more clues. The photograph stands as a testament to the ways in which photography can be used to perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce unequal power structures.