Marron met albinisme 1900 - 1913

This photograph, "Marron met albinisme", was captured by Augusta Curiel, though we don’t know exactly when. It's a portrait of a group of people, sitting on some planks, and I’m immediately struck by the tonal range and the way the light defines the forms. Curiel was known for documenting the landscapes and people of Suriname, so her photographs have a real documentary quality but also something more. Look at the textures she captures; the worn wood of the planks, the variety of fabrics and textures of their clothing, and the way light falls on their skin, giving them a tangible presence. The image has a kind of quiet gravity. The eye is drawn to the range of tones and the way they create depth and form, lending the figures a sense of immediacy. Photography, like painting, is all about capturing a moment, but it's also about a longer conversation with art history and our own experience of the world. Think of the directness and honesty of someone like August Sander. Curiel's work reminds us that art is an ongoing dialogue, reflecting the complexities of human experience.