Omslag met veertien foto's en diverse documenten uit het bezit van plantage-eigenaar Paul Sandel 1880 - 1920

This is an album cover, made by Paul Sandel, a plantation owner, probably around the turn of the 20th century. It contains fourteen photographs and various documents from his possession. The cover itself is a simple, robust construction, likely made from paperboard covered with bookcloth – a practical material designed for durability. Its very ordinariness speaks volumes. Sandel wasn't interested in embellishment, but rather in the functional housing of his personal archive. Consider the labor implicit in its creation. The paperboard was likely produced in a factory, a product of industrial capitalism. The photographs and documents within capture a specific social context – that of a plantation owner. This album acts as a container for a particular history, shaped by colonial power dynamics and labor exploitation. Ultimately, this album prompts us to consider how everyday objects can be deeply entwined with larger social and political realities. It challenges us to look beyond conventional notions of art and value, and to recognize the significance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an object.