Woning Districts-Commissaris te Nickerie 1891

This albumen print by Gomez Burke depicts the residence of the District Commissioner in Nickerie, Suriname. The image presents a wide lawn and picket fence leading to a large colonial-style house, all framed by tropical vegetation. This photograph speaks volumes about the social and political landscape of Suriname under Dutch colonial rule. The District Commissioner was a key figure in the colonial administration. This image is a window into the physical and social distance maintained between the colonizer and the colonized. The residence is elevated and set apart, symbolizing authority. The surrounding vegetation, while natural to the region, becomes a backdrop that reinforces the exoticized image of the colony. The flags flying may be of the colonizing country. To fully understand this image, we would want to delve into the archives of the Dutch colonial administration, examining records of the District Commissioner's activities. This investigation would explore how spaces such as these were integral to the maintenance and projection of colonial power.