Vier jonge dames in ontbloot bovenlichaam poserend voor een tempelpoort op Zuid-Bali 1900 - 1915

This vintage photograph of four young women, shot by Johanna Hermina Marmelstein, captures a scene in South Bali. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Marmelstein, setting up her camera in front of this temple gate. The light would have been different every time, shifting through the palm trees. She probably spent hours finding the best spot, waiting for the right moment. Look at the details of the temple carvings—each one tells a story, a layer of cultural history. I bet Marmelstein wanted to capture not just the image, but the whole atmosphere, the feeling of being in this sacred space. As an artist, I’m always thinking about how we see each other and how we record what we see. Each photograph captures a moment, but also the ongoing conversation that artists have with history, tradition, and each other. How can we convey an image?