Twee Indonesische ananasverkopers 1857 - 1880

This photograph, titled "Two Indonesian Pineapple Sellers," was created by Woodbury & Page. It gives us a glimpse into the lives of two men in Indonesia, likely during the colonial era. Consider the power dynamics at play: Western photographers capturing images of Indonesian people. This act inherently involves observation, documentation, and, perhaps, a degree of objectification. What were the motivations of Woodbury & Page? What narratives were they trying to construct? The photograph might romanticize the exotic or reinforce stereotypical views of labor and local life. It invites us to reflect on the ethics of representation and the impact of colonial perspectives on the depiction of non-Western cultures. While seemingly a simple portrayal of everyday life, it’s a potent reminder of the complexities of cultural exchange and the narratives we inherit.