Tabaksveld op het Bindjey Estate van de Deli-Batavia Maatschappij op Sumatra (80 dagen na aanplant) c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph, "Tabaksveld op het Bindjey Estate van de Deli-Batavia Maatschappij op Sumatra (80 dagen na aanplant)" was taken by an anonymous photographer. Looking at this image, what strikes me is how the dense field of tobacco plants becomes almost abstract. The varying shades of grey create a textured surface, obscuring any clear view into the field. It's like a visual maze, where the eye can wander endlessly. I'm drawn to the small figures standing in the field; they are dwarfed by the sheer scale of the plantation. There's a tension here between the human presence and the overwhelming force of nature turned into industry. It makes you think about labor, and the sheer effort of cultivating such a vast landscape. There's something in this image that reminds me of the landscapes of someone like Edward Burtynsky, who photographs industrial landscapes in a way that highlights both their beauty and their environmental impact. Ultimately, this photograph captures a moment in time, but it also raises questions about our relationship to the land and the systems we create to exploit it.