Studioportret van een Aziatische man met twee manden met voedingswaar 1870 - 1900

This photographic portrait of an Asian man with two baskets of foodstuff was produced in Singapore by A. Sachtler. Singapore's history as a British colony and a hub for trade in the 19th century created a diverse society, attracting migrants from China, India, and other parts of Asia. This studio portrait, with its artificial backdrop, subtly hints at colonial power dynamics. While seemingly a neutral depiction of a local worker, the act of photographing and presenting him in a Western style carries undertones of exoticism and control. Consider the image’s visual codes. The man's traditional clothing and the tools of his trade are highlighted, framing him within a specific social and economic context. The name ‘Singapore’ at the bottom associates the man with a particular geographical and political entity. To fully understand the image, scholars turn to archives, colonial records, and studies of photography's role in shaping perceptions of colonized peoples. The image is an artifact, reflecting the complex social and institutional forces at play in colonial Singapore.