De Kampong Tji Badak in Nederlands-Indië c. 1800 - 1900

This pencil drawing depicts Kampong Tji Badak in the Dutch East Indies, capturing a settlement amid a deforested landscape. The most striking symbols are the tree stumps, stark reminders of nature's exploitation. The felled trees can be connected to images of deforestation across time and cultures. Think of the ancient forests cleared for agriculture, or even contemporary logging practices—the scar of human intervention. The stumps, like broken columns, evoke a sense of loss, echoing classical ruins and the transience of human endeavor. They carry a collective memory of environmental change, sparking an emotional connection to the landscape. These enduring symbols serve as a potent reminder of our complex relationship with nature. Through history, they have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts, becoming powerful allegories for cultural progress.