Surinaamse Caraïben 1903 - 1910

Hendrik Doijer's photo, Surinaamse Caraïben, captures a group portrait, maybe from around the turn of the century. I can imagine Doijer setting up his camera and these people all lining up, self-conscious, but also holding a certain pride, right? Their feet are bare, clothes simple, but their expressions, particularly the eyes, speak volumes. The shades of grey are so subtle, it’s like Doijer was trying to catch the light, to find a kind of truth in the shadows. Photography, like painting, is about light, how it hits a surface, how it reveals or conceals. He’s working in the darkroom, coaxing the image to appear, a bit like how a painter coaxes a painting into being. I think about all the photographers who came after him, who built on this foundation, expanding our vision, helping us see the world in new ways. It makes you think about the ongoing conversation between artists. Each one responds to what came before, adds their own voice.