Nederlands-Ambonees echtpaar 1951 - 1955

This small, black and white photograph by E. de Vries captures a Dutch-Ambonese couple. While the image itself is a product of photographic technology, the background contains evidence of more manual processes. Behind the couple we can see a woven textile hanging on the wall, while the woman wears a knitted sweater. Both represent significant labor, with either complex machinery or skilled hand work involved. The textile is particularly intriguing. The weaver may well have been working within a long tradition, in which the craft represents a form of cultural and personal expression. In contrast, the newspapers laid out on the table connect to a world of mass media. The photograph invites us to consider the relationship between these different modes of production. Paying attention to the materials and making of objects in an image such as this helps us to consider the social context and human effort involved in creating a sense of identity and belonging.