Sluis van plantage Accaribo 1916 - 1930

Theodoor Brouwers made this photograph, titled 'Sluis van plantage Accaribo', at an unknown date. The photograph captures a sluice gate at the Accaribo plantation, offering us a glimpse into the landscape of colonial Suriname. The image creates meaning through its depiction of the built environment in a colonial context. Suriname, as a Dutch colony, was shaped by the economic structures of plantation agriculture. This photograph, with its depiction of the sluice gate, speaks to the engineering required to cultivate the land for crops like sugar and coffee, reminding us of the exploitation of enslaved people. The figures in the boat and standing near the gate suggest a social hierarchy and the systems of control. Understanding this image requires a broader knowledge of Dutch colonial history, and the legacies of slavery and plantation economies in Suriname. Research into the Accaribo plantation itself would offer further insights into the photograph's social context. By considering these factors, we recognize how art is embedded in social and institutional history.