Mannen bij een hanengevecht op een erf in Nederlands-Indië 1912

Onnes Kurkdjian made this photograph called 'Mannen bij een hanengevecht op een erf in Nederlands-Indië' sometime in the late 19th century in the Dutch East Indies. I imagine Kurkdjian carefully composing this shot. He has captured a pivotal moment in the cockfight, with all eyes on the spectacle unfolding. You can almost feel the energy of the crowd, their anticipation palpable. The sepia tones lend a timeless quality, and the details, like the woven baskets and traditional attire, offer glimpses into a rich culture. I think he’s really trying to freeze a fleeting moment in time, preserving a slice of life from a world far removed from our own. The composition draws me in. I find myself wanting to know what happened next. It's the kind of image that lingers in your mind, sparking questions about cultural traditions and the role of photography in documenting them. I bet he wasn't the last to be intrigued by this sort of gathering!