Clearing jungle for a plantation in Sukaranda c. 1885 - 1900

Curator: Looking at this photograph, "Clearing jungle for a plantation in Sukaranda," taken sometime between 1885 and 1900 by Carl J. Kleingrothe, you immediately sense the enormity of the landscape—and perhaps even a kind of tragic before-and-after. Editor: It does have that unsettling vibe, doesn't it? At first glance, it’s just a fairly straightforward documentary shot, maybe even aesthetically pleasing with its tones of light and dark…but the cleared land on the right feels incredibly brutal. It hits you that it's more than just picture; it's about irrevocable change. Curator: Absolutely. The composition, split between the dense, untouched jungle on one side and the devastation on the other, is powerful. It lays bare the industrial expansion into natural environments characteristic of the era. Kleingrothe is making a statement here about man versus nature and our drive for resource extraction. Editor: And consider what isn't said too. These workers... what were their lives like? I get a very strong Orientalist feeling from this photograph and a narrative of progress overshadowing the people that made that progress possible. It makes me wonder about the human cost behind all those logs and fields. What kind of authority would you say Kleingrothe’s photography sought to wield during this time? Curator: He held a prominent place documenting Dutch colonial activities. While the image appears neutral, maybe even documentary, its circulation was used to justify and even glorify the expansion and resource control exercised during colonialism. It's about shaping the view back home, influencing public perception of empire and maybe suppressing some local narratives too. Editor: It becomes clear it’s not merely an aesthetic observation. The choice to show this very particular moment, framed like this, turns it into a kind of justification or endorsement. That’s what really chills me – realizing how photographs can so powerfully become part of that process. Curator: I agree. Thinking about it now I will probably not just see logs next time I look at this piece. There’s a much richer narrative embedded in this relatively simple image. Editor: Yes, definitely changes how you see things, doesn't it? Turns an image into an entire conversation.