Gezicht op Paramaribo vanaf de rivier Suriname Possibly 1817

Friedrich Christoph Dietrich created this print of Paramaribo from the Suriname River sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. During this period, Paramaribo was the capital of the Dutch colony of Suriname, a site of brutal exploitation and the transatlantic slave trade. Notice how the scene is dominated by ships, underscoring the centrality of maritime trade and colonial power to the city's identity. The composition emphasizes the economic activities that supported the Dutch Empire, built on the backs of enslaved peoples. Yet, the absence of enslaved people is a striking omission, a ghostly presence that haunts this seemingly serene vista. As you consider the image, think about whose stories are told and whose are silenced. How does Dietrich's depiction contribute to a narrative of colonial dominance, and what perspectives are lost in the process? The beauty of the landscape belies the harsh realities of life under colonial rule.