Abstract

The chapter describes the analysis of a corpus of over a thousand photographs taken on Easter Island (Rapa Nui) between 1886 and 1925. We seek to understand these photographs within the context in which these were taken. We attempt an analysis of the unseen, unraveling the unspoken discourse behind these images. The photographs were classified according to criteria of cultural vs natural landscapes, and individual or group portraits of people. We found that the moai are the most represented element of the Rapanui landscape, as these megalithic statues have drawn the attention of all visitors to the island in all times. Among the photographs of people – both portraits and group images – we observe that the images are often carefully planned and sometimes staged and imbued with a strong colonial discourse.