Gewas op plantage Accaribo 1913 - 1930

Theodoor Brouwers captured this plantation scene, “Gewas op plantage Accaribo,” sometime between 1875 and 1932. It's a landscape, and the challenge here is to see the artist's hand at work. I think of the physicality of the image, the light hitting the lens, the choices of framing and focus. What did Brouwers want us to see? What was he thinking when he chose this particular view, at this time of day? I can feel the weight of the camera, the darkroom, the steeping chemicals, the slow reveal of the image. This photograph resonates with other documentarians of his time, other photographers and painters trying to capture the essence of a place, a moment, a feeling. It is so interesting how the artist allows the viewer to contemplate the nature of creativity and how our vision is constantly being shaped by the world around us.