Twee aardewerken potten van het Hopi-volk uit Arizona before 1893

These are illustrations of Hopi pottery, made by Gustaf Nordenskiöld, who was a Swedish geologist and arctic explorer. Nordenskiöld documented these objects during an expedition to Arizona in the late 19th century, a period marked by intense colonial encounters and the systematic collection of Indigenous artifacts by Western explorers and scholars. The images themselves are part of this history. The pots carry the imprints of Hopi identity and cultural practices. How are we to interpret Nordenskiöld's documentation? Does it honor the artistry and functionality of these vessels, or does it participate in a colonial gaze that extracts and objectifies? Consider how these pots, made by Hopi hands and used in Hopi homes, become specimens in a foreign study. It raises questions about cultural ownership, the power of representation, and the complex layers of history embedded in these images.