Portrait of Dr. Carl Peters

by  Olivia Fernandez Guelbenzu

This photograph is a portrait of Dr. Carl Peters with his servant Ramassan from 1884. Dr. Carl Peters came from an evangelical pastor's family, he did his PhD and habilitated at the department of philosophy. The photograph, by an unknown photographer, originated during his first Africa expedition in 1884 in German East Africa, today's Tanzania. Dr. Carl Peters was the founder of the "Society for German Colonisation" and went on this journey together with Joachim Graf von Pfeil, Karl Ludwig Jählke and August Otto. The aim was to conquer today's Tanzania, but he lacked the support of Reich Chancellor Bismarck. In November 1884, Peters, from Zanzibar, landed on the African mainland, where this photograph was most likely taken. It shows the imperial colonial politician sitting in his radiant white colonial uniform, very upright on an elegant chair inside a house. The wall and a carpet are also recognisable, but do not, however, distract the observer from the main person. His bespectacled view is clearly focused into the lens of the camera, he positively poses. In the left hand there is an object which is probably a riding whip. This is certainly to be seen as a sign of power, since the maintenance of a horse causes high expenditures. Behind him is his black servant, Ramassan, who is completely dressed in black. The colour difference is very noticeable here, at the same time is has to be observed that the servant also seems to be dressed very neatly and expensively. Ramassan, in contrast to his German superiors, has to stand, thus showing a clear difference in rank. Both men are characterised by a neutral facial expression. With Ramassan's gaze it is not clearly recognizable, whether he looks onto the ground or whether his eyes are being closed completely. It is a black-and-white photograph, taken in portrait format. The picture is to be found in the Federal Archives, where the remark “repro-negative” is noted on the material.