Portret van (vermoedelijk) een Surinaamse vrouw in een lange jurk staand voor een muur c. 1910 - 1920

This is a photo of a Surinamese woman in a long dress, probably taken by Augusta Curiel in the early 20th century. The tones are sepia, almost like a memory, a layering of time itself. What strikes me is the materiality, not just of the woman's dress and the brick wall behind, but of the photographic process itself. Look at the way the light falls, almost unevenly, creating textures where maybe there weren't any. It’s like the image is alive, breathing with a life of its own. The black ribbon around her waist is echoed in the dark shadow of the tree behind her. Augusta Curiel was a pioneering photographer and advocate for Surinamese women’s rights. She reminds me a little of someone like Alice Neel who documented many figures in society. This image is a reminder that art isn’t just about what’s depicted, but also about the process of seeing and the stories we tell ourselves about what we see.