Riettransport met ossen op de suikeronderneming Nieuw Tersana, Cheribon, voormalig Nederlands-Indië c. 1890 - 1935

This photograph titled 'Riettransport met ossen op de suikeronderneming Nieuw Tersana, Cheribon, voormalig Nederlands-Indië' was created by Onnes Kurkdjian. The eye is immediately drawn to the receding line of ox-drawn carts filled to capacity with reeds. The monochromatic palette emphasizes texture and form, from the rough, uneven road to the dense, varied foliage. The composition is structured by a strong horizontal axis formed by the line of carts, intersected by vertical elements of trees and figures. Consider how this structured composition creates a sense of depth and rhythm. The semiotic interplay between the natural and the man-made is evident. The contrast between the wild growth and the ordered procession of carts subtly challenges fixed notions of civilization and exploitation. The photograph's enduring power lies in its formal tension. A tension between order and chaos, between nature and industry. It invites ongoing reflection on the historical and cultural forces at play within its frame.