Fotoalbum van Suriname 1903 - 1910. 'Souvenir de Voyage', deel 5 1903 - 1910

Hendrik Doijer made this "Souvenir de Voyage" photo album from Suriname sometime between 1903 and 1910, and what grabs me is this saturated red that really makes me think about the material of bookmaking. It’s so simple, yet the weathered quality tells a story of its own. The faded edges and soft abrasions invite my eye, as if to trace the path of time. I can imagine Doijer carefully placing each photograph inside, creating a tangible memory of his travels. It's kind of funny - the elegant script of the title hints at a grand adventure, but the material itself feels so modest and intimate. I’m thinking here about Ed Ruscha’s artist books of the 60s like “Every Building on the Sunset Strip”, which approached photography as a conceptual project. This object from Suriname is a reminder that even the humblest materials can carry a wealth of meaning and emotion. Art is always a conversation, and this album whispers across time about memory, place, and the simple beauty of things.