Goudzoekers 1903 - 1910

This picture, "Goudzoekers," was captured by Hendrik Doijer, sometime between his birth in 1863 and his death in 1925. I can imagine Doijer, lugging his camera and tripod through this muddy, torn-up landscape. This picture plane is divided: the gully runs down the center, cutting from top to bottom. On the left is the sluice, that trough-like mechanism, and the dark-skinned man stands on the right. It's hard work. I wonder what they are thinking, stuck down in that pit, sifting through the muck. The monochromatic tones create a sense of starkness. It seems to emphasize the grueling nature of the task. The image feels less about gold and more about the raw, physical act of seeking. You know, it is about the relationship between human labor and the earth. Doijer's photograph invites us to consider the human cost of this pursuit, the sheer effort, and the environmental impact.