Whose Image? Representation of Non-European Women in the Rijksmuseum

Whose Image? is an online exhibition of the images of Indonesian women during the Dutch colonial period, curated by MA students at the University of Leeds.

Most pieces in this exhibition are from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, including paintings and photographs, and it features a contemporary sculpture from the National Gallery of Indonesia.

These artworks will show different perspectives from both European and Indonesian artists of Indonesian women rather than a genuine reflection of their lives. The exhibition explores how women are represented and classified according to colonial views. At the same time, we would like to build the communication between these art works and modern life.

By observing the images of women in a series of art works (most are women at work and portraits), this exhibition hope to discuss how the female is represented under the colonial background, and how women gradually regain their voice in the process of social development. Through this review, we can join in the action of women regaining the right to speak. The aim of the exhibition is to provide a space for the public to communicate and discuss.

Visit the online exhibition

The exhibition is presented here on the OMEKA platform.

Whose image? is curated by MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies and MA Arts Management and Heritage Studies students from the University of Leeds.

It is part of a wider series of exhibitions as part of an Interpretations course module.

Image

Isabella, c1906. Photographer – Simon Maris. Rijksmuseum.