Portret van Jacob Evert Wesenhagen en Jan Palthe Wesenhagen 1882

This photograph features Jacob Evert Wesenhagen and Jan Palthe Wesenhagen, and its creation reflects the complex historical and social dynamics of its time. The two men are dressed in a fashion associated with student life, but their brown skin invites us to consider the legacies of colonialism and the complex interplay between identity, race, and representation in the Dutch context. The backdrop, an image of palm trees, might allude to the Dutch colonies in the East Indies, now Indonesia. It subtly speaks to how colonial power dynamics permeated Dutch society. In their gaze, we can find a mix of defiance and determination. The image seems to ask: How did individuals navigate their identities in a world shaped by colonialism and evolving notions of race and belonging? What does it mean to be both a student and a person of color in this historical context? This photograph offers a window into these layered, intersecting aspects of identity, inviting us to reflect on the personal and political dimensions of representation.