From Model to Sitter
This paper focuses on historic anthropological photographs, meant to depict Indigenous individuals as generic models of colonial stereotypes, and examines their later reclamation as portraits. Applying an intention-based account of portraiture, we discuss the historical context and contemporary ex...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nederlands Genootschap voor Esthetica (Dutch Association of Aesthetics)
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Aesthetic Investigations |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://aestheticinvestigations.eu/article/view/16888 |
| _version_ | 1827277827409444864 |
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| author | Michelle Green Hans Maes |
| author_facet | Michelle Green Hans Maes |
| author_sort | Michelle Green |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper focuses on historic anthropological photographs, meant to depict Indigenous individuals as generic models of colonial stereotypes, and examines their later reclamation as portraits. Applying an intention-based account of portraiture, we discuss the historical context and contemporary examples of the utilisation of these images in order to address several questions. What happens when the depicted persons in colonial imagery are treated and presented as sitters, rather than model specimens? Does this change the nature of the image? If a photograph was not originally intended as a portrait, can it come to function as such at a later stage? Regardless of whether they fulfill all the requirements necessary for portraiture, these colonial photographs represent a vital resource for the reclamation of Indigenous cultural heritage. As such, this paper serves as an introductory discussion into the complex issues surrounding the recategorisation, repatriation, and restitution of colonial photographic archives.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:43:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0996e62cb98042f5aeb22bb24b17130d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-2704 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:43:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nederlands Genootschap voor Esthetica (Dutch Association of Aesthetics) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aesthetic Investigations |
| spelling | doaj.art-0996e62cb98042f5aeb22bb24b17130d2024-04-19T08:52:43ZengNederlands Genootschap voor Esthetica (Dutch Association of Aesthetics)Aesthetic Investigations2352-27042023-12-016210.58519/aesthinv.v6i2.16888From Model to SitterMichelle Green0Hans Maes1IndependentUniversity of KentThis paper focuses on historic anthropological photographs, meant to depict Indigenous individuals as generic models of colonial stereotypes, and examines their later reclamation as portraits. Applying an intention-based account of portraiture, we discuss the historical context and contemporary examples of the utilisation of these images in order to address several questions. What happens when the depicted persons in colonial imagery are treated and presented as sitters, rather than model specimens? Does this change the nature of the image? If a photograph was not originally intended as a portrait, can it come to function as such at a later stage? Regardless of whether they fulfill all the requirements necessary for portraiture, these colonial photographs represent a vital resource for the reclamation of Indigenous cultural heritage. As such, this paper serves as an introductory discussion into the complex issues surrounding the recategorisation, repatriation, and restitution of colonial photographic archives. https://aestheticinvestigations.eu/article/view/16888portraiturecolonial photographyportrait |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Green Hans Maes From Model to Sitter Aesthetic Investigations portraiture colonial photography portrait |
| title | From Model to Sitter |
| title_full | From Model to Sitter |
| title_fullStr | From Model to Sitter |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Model to Sitter |
| title_short | From Model to Sitter |
| title_sort | from model to sitter |
| topic | portraiture colonial photography portrait |
| url | https://aestheticinvestigations.eu/article/view/16888 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michellegreen frommodeltositter AT hansmaes frommodeltositter |