Bezoek aan de leprozerie Pelantoengan 1931 - 1935

Otto Hisgen made this photograph, "Bezoek aan de leprozerie Pelantoengan", sometime in the early 20th century. It’s a world of greys and browns, where the light seems to flatten everything. I find myself drawn to the contrast between the figures walking on the path and the buildings behind. There's something about the physical texture of the photograph – the graininess, the way the light catches certain areas – that feels both intimate and distant. Look at the surface of the road. The artist captures the texture of the stone, yet this texture also creates a distance, like a barrier between us and the scene. This reminds me a little of the way Edward Hopper uses light and shadow to create a sense of loneliness, even in a crowded space. Ultimately, what makes this photograph interesting to me is its ambiguity. It invites us to project our own feelings and associations onto it. It’s a conversation, not a lecture.