Posed studio portraits were very popular in the early 1900s, especially among the prosperous Malay families who could afford them. The Malay woman posing in this photograph is wearing a traditional Malay costume which includes a full-length ‘kain’ or cotton batik-printed sarong and the ‘kebaya’ or blouse. She also has a ‘selendang’ or scarf placed over her head. The selendang is a piece of coloured cloth that is folded and placed on the head and shoulders. The wearer can choose to cover or expose her face to the extent that she considers appropriate.
