Familieportret van de familie Brouwers te Paramaribo 1916 - 1930

This small family portrait was taken in Paramaribo by an unknown photographer. The work is small, like a hidden treasure, inviting a close look to catch the details. I wonder what the photographer was thinking, setting up the shot with all those flowers that seem to crowd the subjects in the frame. And what about the people? I think the photographer wanted to capture something about them that was maybe more real, or more performed—something about their relationships and status. Making a family portrait is not always about freezing a moment, but about performing a kind of play with the figures and the space. It's like the photographer is directing a scene. It’s like the photographer is trying to say something about family, and what it means to pose as a family. In a way, the photographer shares something about their relationship with the subjects.