Portret van Marioetari 1883 - 1884

This is Friedrich Carel Hisgen's photograph of Marioetari, one of the inhabitants of Suriname. It resides in the Rijksmuseum. Here, we confront the gaze of a child, a seemingly simple image, yet laden with the complex weight of colonial history. Notice how the child's direct stare transcends the photograph's immediate context. It evokes a sense of vulnerability, a plea, which echoes across centuries, reminiscent of ancient portraiture where the eyes serve as windows to the soul. We see in Marioetari's expression a universal symbol of innocence confronted by the harsh realities of existence. The child's gaze becomes a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties and the collective memory of injustice. Consider how such a symbol, seemingly fixed in time, resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, engaging us on a profoundly subconscious level.