Gezicht op de uitmonding van de Oembilienrivier in het Singkarakmeer op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This is a photograph of the Oembilien River in Sumatra meeting Singkarak Lake, made by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis. It's got that sepia tone, which gives it a dreamy, faraway feeling. The texture in this photograph is created through varying tones; the deep shades of the jungle canopy give way to lighter reflections in the water and a barely distinguishable horizon line. Look closely at the mark making. It is about contrasts, the deep shadows versus the light reflecting on the water, this is mimicked in the sky, a constant tonal shift. I'm struck by how the density of the foliage in the foreground gives way to an open space in the distance, its all about layers. It reminds me a little of Albert Cuyp, the way he uses atmospheric perspective, with misty blues and browns. Ultimately, this photograph is an invitation to imagine a place, a time, and a culture, full of ambiguity.