Exterieur van het huis en de tuin van de inspecteur van de Deli Maatschappij te Bindjai Langkat op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This small, anonymous photograph captures the exterior and garden of the Deli Maatschappij inspector's house in Bindjai Langkat, Sumatra. I can almost imagine being there with the photographer, squinting in the bright sunlight. It must have been so hot and humid, but maybe there was a nice breeze under the eaves of that veranda. I wonder who lived in this house and what they thought of their surroundings? This image, which has the feel of a quick snapshot, is really interesting, and very different from much of the carefully composed landscape photography of the time. You can sense the photographer's desire to capture something fleeting and immediate, while also fulfilling the documentary purpose of the photo. The scene in this photograph might have inspired paintings. I’d love to see it in color!