Weg met bomen c. 1900s - 1910s

This photograph, titled "Weg met bomen", or "Away with trees", was created by an anonymous artist. It presents a tree-lined road, captured with a stark, documentary quality. The image likely originates from a colonial context, possibly the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The title itself suggests a tension between the imposition of order and control over the natural landscape. It brings up questions about colonial infrastructure projects, perhaps the construction of roads for resource extraction, or the imposition of a European aesthetic on a tropical environment. The photograph then can be read as a commentary on the disruptive impact of colonial projects on the environment, and the way that natural spaces were perceived. Understanding this image requires research into the history of Dutch colonialism, and how environmental resources were used in this period. It is a reminder that art is often shaped by the socio-political contexts in which it is made.