Gezelschap aan de thee bij de familie Poolman-Beyne op tabaksplantage Mariendal van de Deli Maatschappij te Medan c. 1900 - 1920

This black and white photograph captures the Poolman-Beyne family having tea at the Mariendal tobacco plantation in Medan. The details in this piece are remarkable. It is incredible that someone took the time to capture this family in such a manner. The texture of the woven chairs and table cloth draws me in. Each detail seems to have been carefully considered, allowing us to see each and every detail of the people, their clothing, and the environment. The photograph looks almost staged, as if the family are actors on a stage. I wonder, what was the intention behind the photograph? Was it to demonstrate the wealth and success of the family? Was it purely to remember a moment in time? We may never know. I'm reminded of the documentary photography of someone like Dorothea Lange, who also captured intimate moments in time, and leaves the viewer to consider the context and significance of the image. Ultimately, it's up to us to draw our own conclusions.