Sorteerschuur van een tabaksplantage op Sumatra before 1898

Carl J. Kleingrothe created this photogravure, "Sorting Shed of a Tobacco Plantation in Sumatra," using ink on paper. The print is dominated by a rigid grid: pillars and beams impose a sense of order over the open space. This structure, built in receding lines, creates a powerful illusion of depth, drawing your eye into the repetitive tasks performed by the workers inside. The muted grayscale palette emphasizes the textures of the materials – the rough-hewn wood of the building, the varied tones of the tobacco leaves, and the clothing of the figures. The composition divides the scene into precise zones of labor, almost as if the space itself is sorted like the tobacco. This meticulous arrangement suggests an attempt to control and categorize nature, people, and their labor. Look closely at the repetitive structure and how it frames human activity, and consider how this reflects broader issues of organization and control in colonial settings. Art invites continuous examination and discussion, without settling on a singular, fixed interpretation.