Een tempel op noord-Bali, mogelijk bij Batur welke in 1917 door een vulkaan uitbarsting is verwoest 1900 - 1915

Johanna Hermina Marmelstein made this photograph of a temple in Bali sometime in the early 20th century. Look at the way the temple rises, a series of receding forms, each one adorned with intricate carvings. I wonder what it was like to stand there with her, the humid air, the sounds of a world so different from her own. I imagine Marmelstein, carefully framing the shot, aware of the light and shadow playing across the stone. It's fascinating to think about her artistic decisions, her awareness of perspective, texture, and composition. Think of the volcanic eruption she makes reference to in the title. This photo isn’t just a record; it’s an encounter, a dialogue between a Dutch artist and a place charged with history and spiritual significance. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation, building on what came before, and opening new paths for those who follow.