Bali Indonesia Tinted Topless Balinese Girls 1940s Real Photo Postcard

The depiction of "native women" from regions like Bali in the early 20th century was a common subject for photographers operating within the Dutch East Indies. These hand-colored postcards served both as anthropological records and as exotic curiosities for a burgeoning Western market interested in the "unspoiled" cultures of the East. The early 20th century marked a period when colonial powers extensively documented their territories, often capturing indigenous people in traditional attire or settings to showcase cultural diversity or reinforce colonial narratives.

In many parts of Bali, prior to the mid-20th century and increased Western and religious influences, it was customary for women to go bare-chested as part of their traditional dress, typically wearing a sarong or kain wrapped around the lower body. Images such as this captured and circulated this aspect of Balinese culture, contributing to its perception as an idyllic and exotic destination. This period predates the significant shifts in local customs that later saw more widespread adoption of Western-style clothing or more modest attire influenced by religious teachings and modern tourism.