Gezicht op offertempels before 1897

This is a photographic print of offering temples, made by Christiaan Johan Neeb, who died in 1925. The use of photography here isn't just a matter of documentation; it's an active way of encountering the temples. The temples themselves, judging from the print, were made from timber and thatch, seemingly sourced from the immediate environment. The materials aren't refined; they're used in a raw state, straight from the landscape. Consider the labor involved in their construction, the human effort of hewing and assembling. The act of photographing these temples, too, involves labor: the photographer's careful composition, the darkroom work. The print invites us to think about all of the work and cultural practices that went into its production, inviting reflection on the relationship between people and the environment. Ultimately, this photographic image prompts questions about the cultural value we assign to certain objects and practices, urging us to look beyond the surface and consider the depth of human involvement.