Gezicht op Lower Lake before 1867

John Hudson’s photograph, “Gezicht op Lower Lake” captures a scene with the stark contrast between light and shadow. In the absence of further information about Hudson's life, or the exact date the photograph was taken, we can still consider the image within a broader historical context. During the 19th century, landscape photography was closely linked to notions of exploration, and the sublime, which were intertwined with colonial expansion. Hudson’s choice to photograph a natural landscape invites reflection on how nature, and its representation, is never a neutral act. The way landscapes are depicted often carries implications about land ownership, resource extraction, and the relationship between humans and the environment. This photograph, viewed through a contemporary lens, can prompt a dialogue about environmental ethics, the legacy of colonialism, and the impact of human actions on the natural world. It encourages us to consider whose stories are told and whose perspectives are prioritized when capturing landscapes.