Twee vrouwen controleren de scheringen van een weefgetouw before 1900

This is an undated photograph of two women checking the warp threads on a loom, made by an anonymous artist. It offers a glimpse into the lives of working women, likely in a non-Western context, given the style of dress. The photograph presents us with a striking contrast: the detailed labor of textile production versus the anonymity of the worker. Such images raise questions about who is represented in visual culture and on what terms. The absence of information about the photograph's origin highlights the frequent omission of non-Western perspectives from historical records, and from the narratives of institutions such as museums. To better understand this image, we might delve into archives that document the global textile industry. We should also consult feminist historians whose research brings to light the hidden labor of women. It is in this way that we can learn more about the social conditions in which images like these were made and circulated.