On November 9 last year, our local newspaper, the Sunday Argus, published an article on "Forgotten Portraits of a People".
The article was about a German photographer, Gustav Fritsch, who came to southern Africa in 1863 and stayed until 1865, and in that time took photographs with the newly discovered technology of photography.
After lying forgotten for all those years, the images were sourced in Germany, scanned by Keith Dietrich of the University of Stellenbosch, and recently put on display at the Sasol Museum in Stellenbosch.
The Sunday Argus published four portraits and a group photo, and this is my interpretation of Mickie, a Khoikhoi who lived in Harrismith in the Free State. The original photograph was taken in 1864, was obviously a sepia image, but what struck me most about the picture was the absolute sadness in her eyes. I think it reflects the history of colonisation around the world, not only in our country. I have tried to reflect not only this sadness, but also the absolute beauty of Mickie.
The article was about a German photographer, Gustav Fritsch, who came to southern Africa in 1863 and stayed until 1865, and in that time took photographs with the newly discovered technology of photography.
After lying forgotten for all those years, the images were sourced in Germany, scanned by Keith Dietrich of the University of Stellenbosch, and recently put on display at the Sasol Museum in Stellenbosch.
The Sunday Argus published four portraits and a group photo, and this is my interpretation of Mickie, a Khoikhoi who lived in Harrismith in the Free State. The original photograph was taken in 1864, was obviously a sepia image, but what struck me most about the picture was the absolute sadness in her eyes. I think it reflects the history of colonisation around the world, not only in our country. I have tried to reflect not only this sadness, but also the absolute beauty of Mickie.
No comments:
Post a Comment