Gezicht op huis langs de rivier met op de achtergrond een fermenteerschuur, Langkat Sumatra c. 1900

This photograph captures a view of houses along a river in Langkat, Sumatra, taken by Heinrich Ernst & Co. It's a window into a landscape shaped by Dutch colonialism and the plantation economy. In this image, we see more than just a tranquil scene; it reveals a structured environment designed for resource extraction. The "fermenting shed" in the background isn't just a building; it's a site of labor, indicative of the forced cultivation of resources. The presence of such infrastructure, set against the backdrop of local dwellings, speaks volumes about the power dynamics at play. Who benefits from this industry, and at what cost? The photograph invites us to reflect on the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized, and the lasting impact of these relationships on identity, land, and culture. It’s a landscape imbued with histories of labor and displacement, asking us to consider the complexities of Sumatra's past.