Powerful Pictures

Unlike Sukarno, Hatta is not a stirring subject for photography. His power lies in the historical context of the pictures.

August 13, 2002

A YOUTH poses at a house with six women wearing kebayas. The old lady is sitting, and the young ones are standing. The youth—independence declarator Mohamad Hatta—wearing a light-colored suit, looks healthy although his face looks fatigued. At a glance, there doesn't seem to be anything special in the picture.

Not much information except a brief handwritten note, "Kebun Djeruk '34, Djakarta. Sebelum ke Digul tahun 1935" ("Kebun Djeruk '34,

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