Graven van perkeniers 1875 - 1890

"Graven van perkeniers" or "Graves of Gardeners" by C. Dietrich is a photograph that captures a scene laden with the complexities of Dutch colonial history. Without a specific date, we can only infer, but the image itself speaks volumes about the power dynamics inherent in colonial societies. Who were these gardeners? Were they indigenous people, or were they settlers? The very act of photographing their graves invites us to consider the lives, labor, and perhaps exploitation, that defined their existence. The composition of the image, with the graves nestled amidst lush vegetation, creates a poignant juxtaposition between nature's indifference and human history. It makes me think about whose stories are told and whose are omitted. I wonder about the untold narratives of those who toiled in these gardens and the implications of their unmarked resting places. This photograph challenges us to confront the legacy of colonialism and question how history remembers some while forgetting others.