Portret van twee mannen van de Ngbandi te Bokula 1896

Franz Thonner made this photograph of two men from the Ngbandi people of Bokula. It was likely produced at the turn of the twentieth century during the Belgian colonization of the Congo. The photograph creates meaning through its use as an ethnographic study, reflecting the visual codes of scientific documentation of the period. The two men are posed against a backdrop of their village, positioned frontally to allow for a clear view of their physical features and dress. This approach, part of a broader European project to categorize and understand different cultures, was deeply implicated in the power dynamics of colonialism. The image raises questions about the social conditions that shaped its production. What was the photographer’s relationship with his subjects? How were these images used back in Europe, and what impact did they have on colonial policies and public perceptions? Historians use a variety of resources, including colonial archives, anthropological studies, and oral histories, to understand the complex interplay between art, power, and representation in this period. These sources help us to critically examine the photograph's historical context and its role in shaping colonial narratives.