Huizen in een Batakse kampong op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph, taken by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis, shows houses in a Batak village on Sumatra. The structures are built from the land, with materials that speak to the ingenuity and labor of their makers. Look at the high-pitched roofs thatched with local fibers, the sturdy wooden stilts, and the woven bamboo. These materials aren't just functional; they reflect the cultural and environmental context of Sumatra. The construction methods, passed down through generations, represent a deep understanding of the local climate and available resources. The photograph captures a moment in the daily life of the village. It reminds us that craft and making aren't just about individual expression; they are fundamental to how communities build their homes and sustain their ways of life. Appreciating this image means recognizing the profound connections between materials, making, and social context, blurring the lines between fine art and the everyday ingenuity of human creation.