"On the Left, the Boutique of a vettewarier or Retailer; on the Right, the Boutique of a snerie or Tailor; in the Middle, a Naked Negro having his Measurement Taken for some Clothes" (caption translation). This engraving shows three separate scenes occurring out of the windows and front door of a single house. "The vette-warier," Benoit wrote, "are usually owned by Jewish merchants, but the tailor shops are sometimes held by slaves who have slaves working for them." Pierre Jacques Benoit (1782-1854) was a Belgian artist, who visited the Dutch colony of Suriname on his own initiative for several months in 1831. He stayed in Paramaribo, but visited plantations, maroon communities and indigenous villages inland.
A gauche, la boutique d'un vette-warier ou détaillant; à droite, la boutique d'un snerie ou tailleur; au milieu, un nègre nu se faisant prendre mesure d'un vêtement
SI-OB-941
1831
A gauche, la boutique d'un vette-warier ou détaillant; à droite, la boutique d'un snerie ou tailleur; au milieu, un nègre nu se faisant prendre mesure d'un vêtement
"Figure 32" in Pierre Jacques Benoit, Voyage à Surinam; description des possessions néerlandaises dans la Guyane (Bruxelles: Société des Beaux-Arts de Wasme et Laurent, 1839).
French
Miscellaneous Occupations & Economic Activities
South America--Suriname--Paramaribo
Jerome Handler; Michael Tuite; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May
3-May-12; 3-Sep-19
BEN16a