Arbeiders op plantage Accaribo te Suriname 1916 - 1930

Theodoor Brouwers made this gelatin silver print of workers on the Accaribo plantation in Suriname at an unknown date. The sepia tone gives it a feeling of looking back into the past, not just because of the people and the place, but because of how photography was then. The composition is quite formal. It’s a group portrait set against a simple building and under a bright sky. In the bottom corners, a man squats on each side, looking directly at the camera, one with a bucket and the other with a patterned bowl. A line of four people stand behind them. The textures are striking, from the soft, light fabrics of the women’s dresses and headscarves to the rougher material of the men’s clothing and the corrugated roof. Look closely at the dresses, they are patterned, probably batik. Brouwers has captured a real sense of presence and dignity. Each person seems to meet the camera’s gaze with strength and calm. When I look at this photograph, I am reminded of the American photographer, Walker Evans, and his portraits of sharecroppers. It’s about seeing each other, and being seen.