Gezicht op het landgoed van George Gill Green in Woodbury before 1889

This photograph presents an anonymous view of George Gill Green's estate in Woodbury. Though we don't know who took this photograph, it's clear they were interested in depicting the built environment. The image's monochrome tones highlight the contrasts between the natural and the constructed. The wooden bridge, with its geometric lattice work, and the distant gazebo, assert human control over the landscape. The textures and shadows captured through the photographic process bring out the material qualities of the wood, emphasizing the labor involved in shaping it. We see evidence of carpentry and construction – skills and traditions often relegated to the realm of craft, yet essential to creating spaces of leisure and privilege. This photograph invites us to consider the social context of its making. It prompts us to question the labor, politics, and consumption that underpinned the creation and maintenance of such estates. It challenges us to look beyond the picturesque scene and understand the underlying systems that made such displays of wealth possible.