Portret van een Maleisische man met paraplu 1867 - 1880

This photograph, taken by G.R. Lambert & Co., shows a Malay man with an umbrella. Though undated, such images were common from the mid-19th century onward. The photograph embodies the complicated dynamics of colonial portraiture. Photographers in places like the Dutch East Indies often catered to European tastes, presenting ethnographic depictions of the local population. Here, we see the sitter in what might be considered traditional dress – a sarong and cap – and he is barefoot. The umbrella serves as a curious signifier. Is it a marker of status, or simply a prop? Consider how the image might play into colonial power structures by reinforcing European ideas about the ‘exotic’ East. To fully understand the photograph, we must explore the history of colonial photography and its role in shaping cultural perceptions. Research into the archives of photography studios and the accounts of travelers can shed light on the complex interplay between observer and observed. It serves as a reminder that every image is a product of its time, shaped by social and institutional forces.