Elio Modigliani in Indonesia : Nineteenth century views of natives and Dutch colonizers

Elio Modigliani (1860-1932) is often considered a paradigmatic figure of the late 19th century voyager, explorer and collector. His collections and writings also represent a connection between the Netherlands and the history of the Florentine Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology. This Museum is one of the oldest anthropology museums in the world and represents an excellent case study for many aspects of museology and decolonization. We investigate in this article the contexts in which Modigliani operated: the newborn Italian State and the Dutch territories of the Southeast colonies. The case of Modigliani adds a new dimension to the landscape of relationship between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia. Also our understanding of the social context and the cultural/political framework of Modigliani's work can add precious new meanings to interpreting his role as a scientific traveler and to contextualize his museum collections for the public.