Werk aan de helling van de Woih ni Tonggo Besi 1903 - 1913

This photograph shows a steep bank with workers along its ledges. The anonymous artist has framed the scene to emphasize the stark verticality of the earth and the rough texture of its surface. The composition is divided into layers, with the foreground slope leading the eye toward the more level tiers further back. This structure creates a sense of depth but also of confinement, as the earth seems to press in from all sides. The small figures of the workers punctuate these layers, suggesting a human presence dwarfed by the geological scale. The limited tonal range contributes to a feeling of uniformity, where light and shadow play across the surface without creating strong contrasts. The photograph thus presents an environment where human activity is set against the backdrop of raw, almost indifferent, natural forms. This interplay between the human and the natural raises questions about labor, scale, and the ways we perceive our place within the world.