Pepohoan Female Head; Pepohoan Female Head; Pepohoan Female Head; Pepohoan Female Head; Pepohoan Male Head; Pepohoan Male Head c. 1868

John Thomson created this photographic print titled ‘Pepohoan Female Head; Pepohoan Male Head’ sometime in the late 19th century. These images, arranged on a single album page, present a series of headshots of individuals from the Pepohoan community, likely located in Southeast Asia. In the 19th century, photography was often employed by colonial powers as a tool for cataloging and classifying different populations. This image may have been commissioned or created within such a context, reflecting a broader interest in documenting and studying the diverse peoples encountered during the period of European expansion and colonialism. The formal presentation of these headshots, arranged in neat rows, underscores the scientific or ethnographic intentions behind their creation. It’s useful to examine archival records from institutions like the Royal Geographical Society to understand how this kind of image played a role in shaping European perceptions of other cultures. The meaning of these images will continue to change over time.