Mannen, vrouwen en kinderen poserend voor een vergaderhuis in Minangkabou op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This photo by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis captures a gathering of people in front of a Minangkabau meeting house on Sumatra. Imagine Nieuwenhuis setting up his camera, carefully composing the shot. The light is dappled, filtered through the trees, softening the scene. He’s trying to capture not just the structure, but the life around it. The texture of the thatched roof of the meeting house contrasts with the smooth faces of the people gathered. Maybe he thought about how this image would travel, carrying stories across oceans and years. It reminds me of when I’m painting, thinking about how each stroke, each layer, carries a bit of my intention. Every mark we make leaves a trace. Nieuwenhuis’ photograph is like a historical painting, capturing a moment in time, but also inviting us to imagine all the moments that came before and after.