These images—mostly made on commission and for the souvenir market—helped shape the perception of Suriname as a prosperous colony but also bear traces of what was typically left out of the frame.
Aankomst van het stoomschip H.M. Hertog Hendrik op de Surinamerivier, 6 februari 1928, Koninklijke Verzamelingen Den Haag
On view at Foam, Amsterdam, 23 May 2025 – 6 November 2025
Foam presents the first retrospective exhibition in the Netherlands dedicated to the work of Augusta Curiel (Suriname, 1873-1937). With her sister Anna (Suriname, 1875–1958) as her assistant, Curiel ran a successful photography studio in Paramaribo, establishing herself as one of Suriname’s most prominent photographers. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Curiel’s work, featuring over 100 images that offer a rich glimpse into Surinamese society in the early twentieth century. Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten (translated from Sranan Tongo as Hear My Voice) highlights the multifaceted practice and distinctive role of Anna and Augusta Curiel in Surinamese society during the Dutch colonial period. The exhibition coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Suriname’s independence.
Sinaasappelen, 1920-1937, Konimklijke Verzamelingen Den Haag
Using a large plate camera on a wooden tripod, Augusta Curiel likely took thousands of photographs between 1904 and 1937, both in her Paramaribo studio and on location, with the assistance of her sister Anna. She frequently received commissions to document daily life in Suriname, from official events to religious missions, traveling across the country to photograph plantations and expeditions. Curiel’s work is celebrated for her technical expertise and strong sense of composition. Her photographs were widely distributed in newspapers, magazines, postcards, souvenir albums and family collections in Suriname, the Caribbean, other former Dutch colonies, and the Netherlands. Her success was formally recognised in 1929 when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands granted her the prestigious title of Purveyor to the Royal Supplier, making her the first Surinamese photographer to receive this honour.
Inladen van bacoven (bananen) op een boot in de transport trens, ca 2015, Koninklijke Verzamelingen, Den Haag
Of the thousands of photographs taken by Augusta and Anna Curiel, approximately 1,200 have been preserved. These images—mostly made on commission and for the souvenir market—helped shape the perception of Suriname as a prosperous colony but also bear traces of what was typically left out of the frame. While they were intended to depict a positive image, the photographs also show a country of stark contrasts, shaped by colonial rule, racial hierarchies and deep economic inequalities. Despite her significant contributions, Augusta Curiel remains an enigmatic and often overlooked figure in the history of photography. The exhibition Yere Mi Sten highlights how she has visualized the history of Suriname for a national and international audience—an extraordinary legacy.
Augusta en Anna in actie tijdens landing van het watervkiegtuig de Dornier Do-X op de Surinamerivier, 18 augustus 1931
The title Yere Mi Sten comes from the opening line of the poem Mi Dren by Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout (1910-1992), a prominent Surinamese poet and contemporary of Augusta Curiel. In Sranan Tongo, the title means Hear My Voice.
In 2022, Foam organised the exhibition Surinamese Wedding Portraits in collaboration with guest curator and independent researcher Lucia Nankoe. Her ongoing research into Augusta Curiel forms the basis for the upcoming exhibition Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten. Lucia Nankoe developed the exhibition in collaboration with co-curator Jilke Golbach.
Katoenveld op plantage Broederschap in de omgeving van Paramaribo, ca. 1928, Collectie Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturem
About the artist
Augusta Curiel was born in 1873 in Paramaribo, where she grew up with her sisters Anna and Elisabeth and brother Adolf. Her mother, Henriette Paulina Petronella Curiel (1840-1903) was born into slavery and manumitted before 1864 by her father, Mozes Curiel, a merchant born in Amsterdam. The surname Curiel points to Portuguese-Jewish descent. Nothing is known about the father of the Curiel sisters.
The family was active in the Evangelical Lutheran church and moved in prominent social circles in Paramaribo. The three sisters lived and worked together at Domineestraat 28. Brother Adolf was a politician, plantation owner and merchant in gold, balata, coffee and cocoa, among other things.
Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten can be seen from 23 May 2025 – 6 November 2025 at Foam.
Open daily 10.00 – 18.00 hrs, Thurs/Fri 10.00 – 21.00 hrs.
Foam, Keizersgracht 609, 1017 DS Amsterdam, The Netherlands, + 31 (0)20 5516500, www.foam.org
