Tabaksveld in aanleg op tabaksplantage Bekalla van de Deli Maatschappij op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph, from an unknown date, captures the site of a tobacco plantation on Sumatra. I am drawn to the way the landscape is captured in monochrome. It's like the artist is trying to find a way to flatten the image, to squeeze it to a pulp, and wring out all the details. The horizontal terraces carve out space, and the composition builds into a field of parallel lines. Think about the work involved in setting up this plantation. I can see that the artist is interested in the physical demands of the earth, and the challenges of working and tilling the soil. It reminds me of a drawing by Agnes Martin, simple lines that represent more than what they are. It's exciting that this image remains open, and ambiguous, still offering the possibility for the viewer to bring their own ideas. And that’s the beautiful thing about art, it's not just about what the artist puts in, but also what the viewer brings to it.