Studioportret van een zittende jonge Javaanse man en vrouw dragend een batik sarong c. 1870 - 1912

This is a studio portrait of a young Javanese man and woman, wearing batik sarongs, taken by Kassian Céphas in the late 19th century. Céphas was the first Javanese photographer to open a commercial studio. At this time Java was under Dutch colonial rule and photography became a tool for shaping European perceptions of the East. The Javanese elites strategically used photography to negotiate their identities, caught between tradition, and the cultural norms imposed by colonialism. In this context, Céphas’ work reflects the complexities of representation. Note the careful arrangement of traditional attire and the formal pose of the subjects, suggesting an assertion of cultural identity, yet one that is framed for a foreign gaze. The subjects present themselves with dignity, but the power dynamic inherent in the colonial context cannot be ignored. It invites us to reflect on the emotional and cultural negotiations involved in creating images across cultural divides.