Ophoging (dam) in zwamp ... bij Mäabo 1905 - 1910

This photograph titled "Ophoging (dam) in zwamp ... bij Mäabo", of uncertain date, was taken by Augusta Curiel. As a female photographer of Afro-Surinamese descent, Curiel occupied a unique position from which to document early 20th-century Suriname. In this image, we see workers constructing a dam in a swampy area near Mäabo. The photograph offers a glimpse into the physical labor involved in shaping the Surinamese landscape. It invites us to consider the complex interplay between human intervention and the natural environment. It also subtly raises questions about labor, race, and the colonial project in Suriname. Curiel’s work often captured the everyday lives and landscapes of Suriname, preserving a visual record of a rapidly changing society. Her photographs are a testament to the power of visual storytelling and its capacity to reflect and shape societal narratives. They challenge traditional representations and offer alternative perspectives on the history and identity of Suriname.