Drie mannen 1860 - 1890

Woodbury and Page made this photograph of three men in Java, Indonesia. The photograph reflects Dutch colonial influence. The men's attire combines traditional Javanese clothing, such as batik sarongs and head coverings, with Western-style jackets. This blending symbolizes the complex social and cultural dynamics of the time, where local customs were intertwined with colonial governance. The presence of weapons, such as the keris daggers, indicates the sitters’ social standing. The men adopt formal poses typical of Western portraiture, reflecting how photography, as an institution, was used by colonial powers to document and categorize populations. Woodbury and Page were among the most famous commercial photographers in Java at this time. Understanding photographs like this requires us to look into the history of colonialism, the development of photography, and the local social structures in Java during that period. By looking at photographs such as this we can better understand the social and institutional context of the image.