Muziekinstrumenten uit de collectie Daniël François Scheurleer, tentoongesteld in Pulchri Studio in 1893 1893

Adrianus van der Grient captured this image of "Muziekinstrumenten uit de collectie Daniël François Scheurleer" at the Pulchri Studio in 1893. The photograph offers a glimpse into the cultural milieu of the late 19th century. The image showcases a collection of musical instruments that hint at the global interests of the collector, Daniël François Scheurleer. They are displayed almost as trophies or specimens, reflecting a colonial era fascination with collecting and categorizing objects from different cultures. This act of collecting can be seen as an assertion of cultural dominance, framing these instruments within a Western context. Consider the power dynamics at play when objects of cultural significance are removed from their original settings and recontextualized within a European collection. The instruments hang against a backdrop that merges exoticism with domesticity. This collection and its display speak to the complex ways in which cultural identity and power intersect.