'Pilger aus Martapura (Süd-Borneo)'. Photographer: Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

This full-length portrait shows ten men, described as pilgrims from Martapura, South Kalimantan, in Indonesia on the island of Borneo. The men squat face forward, looking towards the camera.

From right to left the men wear: a white thawb , patterned shawl and turban; a white thawb and a patterned turban; a dark jacket over a white thawb , patterned turban a ring on the little finger of his right hand; a dark jacket and patterned turban; a patterned turban, dark jacket and checked sarong; a patterned turban and white shirt; a dark jacket over a white thawb and patterned turban; a white thawb and patterned turban; a polka-dot shirt and dark turban; a dark jacket over a mid-coloured thawb and turban. The man at centre holds two scrolls in his hands while the man third from left holds some form of handkerchief in his hands.

The men are photographed in a courtyard-like space with plants – some in wide wooden pots – foliage and a window, fronted by bars, visible in the background.

The negative has had hand-work applied, causing it to take on a soft-shaded paint-like quality in places.

Temporal Context:

The photograph was taken between September and December 1884, according to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 , Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, p. 20. This attribution is based on unpublished diaries and correspondence in the Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje Archive, University of Leiden Library.

Inscriptions:

Printed above image, in ink:

XXIX

Printed beneath image, in ink:

'Pilger aus Martapura (Süd-Borneo).'

A circular 'British Museum' blind stamp is located in the lower left corner.

Extent and format

1 collotype print

It is part of

‘Bilder-Atlas zu Mekka’, by Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje

138 images

Ref: 1781.b.6

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

192 x 251 mm

Format:

1 collotype print

Condition:

The print is in good condition.

Foliation:

‘XXIX’

Written in

German in Latin script

Type

Photograph

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

1781.b.6/64

History of this record

Date(s)

1884 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Portrait photography

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Cite this record in your research

'Pilger aus Martapura (Süd-Borneo)'. Photographer: Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, 1781.b.6/64, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023619120.0x000032> [accessed 5 October 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023619120.0x000032

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