Gemälde
- Persien [Land/Region]
- Julius Heinrich Petermann (Collector); Kupferstichkabinett - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Disposal)
The measurement of skulls or craniometry was popular in the early 20th century and was used by some western scientists as an affirmation of European superiority over lesser races. The German anthropologist and collector Hans-Eberhard Kauffman tried this practice while visiting the Konyak-Naga region, but the villagers ultimately did not cooperate. This photo of two villagers in front of a canvas used for phrenological photography shows the racial attitude of that time and how such pseudo-scientific studies helped to create deep racial tensions and discriminations. COMMENT BY ZUBENI LOTHA, CO-CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION AND ARTIST FROM NAGALAND