Man poserend tussen de palmen van de Gouvernementspalmentuin in Paramaribo before 1927

Eugen Klein made this photograph of a man posing among the palm trees in Paramaribo. Photographs like this one were often made with albumen prints, a process which involved coating paper with egg white before adding a light-sensitive silver solution. The resulting image has a characteristic sepia tone and smooth surface. The albumen itself, usually a waste product, became an essential component. These types of photographs, often mass-produced as postcards or souvenirs, were part of a global industry connecting the West with colonized lands. This image freezes a moment in time, while it is also a reminder of the exploitation of both natural resources and labor that characterized this era. Considering the materials and processes used to create this photograph broadens our understanding of its cultural and historical significance.