Vader en zoon op veranda in Paramaribo 1913 - 1930

This photograph, captured by an anonymous hand, shows a father and son on a veranda in Paramaribo. Note the father’s steady gaze, the resolute set of his shoulders, and the hand firmly placed on his hip: these are universal symbols of strength and authority. Consider how such gestures echo through time, from classical sculptures of emperors to modern-day portraits of leaders. Here, in the particular context of Paramaribo, these symbols take on another layer. Colonial society often imposed very specific ideals of masculinity; this photograph seems to challenge, or perhaps negotiate, these norms. The act of presenting oneself in a certain manner before the camera involves a complex interplay of conscious and unconscious desires. The father's pose, repeated and mirrored across centuries, reflects an aspiration to embody power. Yet here, in this moment, we capture a glimpse of how collective memory and personal identity intertwine, creating a new narrative within an old framework. The symbols of power are not static, but constantly evolving, each repetition subtly altered by its cultural and historical context.