Portret van een kind met een pop c. 1857 - 1880

This photograph, "Portret van een kind met een pop" was created in Java by Woodbury & Page. The image captures a child standing near what appears to be a doorway or window frame, clutching a doll. Woodbury and Page were known for their studio portraits in Java during a time of Dutch colonial rule. It’s interesting to consider the power dynamics inherent in this situation: the subject's identity, and the photographer's. The child's gaze is direct, but reserved. I am left wondering about their life in Java, and how their identity was being shaped by this colonial context. The doll she is holding becomes a poignant object that encourages the viewer to reflect on the ways in which childhood intersects with broader cultural and political forces. The photograph invites us to consider the complexities of identity, representation, and the lingering impact of colonialism.