Vetplant agave met op de achtergrond een brug in Menton c. 1870 - 1900

This photograph captures an agave plant with a bridge in Menton, taken by Neurdein Frères. The image offers a lens through which to consider the dynamics of nature, culture, and colonial history. During the time this photograph was taken, exotic flora were collected and displayed, reflecting a European fascination with the wider world and the power dynamics embedded in this act of acquisition. Menton, with its mild climate, became a haven for such botanical displays, embodying the complex layers of colonialism, scientific exploration, and tourism. The agave, a plant native to the Americas, becomes a symbol of displacement, transplanted to a foreign landscape. In considering this image, one might reflect on how the act of photography itself mirrors the act of claiming and framing the natural world. It invites us to consider our own relationship to the environment.