Interieur met vrouw in koto 1913 - 1930

Theodoor Brouwers made this small stereograph, ‘Interieur met vrouw in koto,’ sometime between 1890 and 1932, using a photographic process on glass. I can imagine Brouwers setting up his camera, adjusting the focus, and carefully composing this scene. The woman, dressed in a traditional Surinamese koto, stands almost still, in front of the bureau, as if caught in a moment of contemplation. There's a stillness here, a quiet intimacy. I think about the light, how it falls unevenly, creating these soft shadows that suggest a sense of depth and atmosphere. The texture of the glass itself adds to the image, lending it a kind of timeless quality. It's like looking into someone's memory. It reminds me a bit of the Dutch Masters, but with this completely different vibe. Brouwers, like them, seemed so interested in portraying daily life and domestic scenes. But, of course, photography changes everything, doesn’t it? It offers this different way of seeing and experiencing the world. Like a dream.