Pagina 48 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

J.W. Meyster created this image, "Page 48 from a photo book of the General Association of Rubber Planters on the East Coast of Sumatra", in 1930. It's fascinating how a seemingly straightforward documentary photograph can reveal so much about the photographer's approach. Look at the ordered lines of trees receding into the distance. There is such a striking sense of repetition and imposed order on the natural world. The eye is drawn down the neat rows, but then snagged by the light and shadow playing across the leaves. It's not just a record; it's a construction. The tones are muted, almost sepia, lending a historical feel. Notice how the light catches the tops of the trees, creating a rhythm of light and dark. I'm reminded of the landscapes of the Bechers, with their stark, objective approach, yet here, the human element—the shaping of the land—is undeniable. It asks, what is our relationship to the land, and how do we see ourselves within it? Art is conversation and negotiation with our present, and those who came before. There’s always more than one way of seeing.