Strand bij Mount Lavinia (Colombo) met palmen, villa en kind in de branding c. 1900 - 1920

This black and white photograph shows the beach near Mount Lavinia in Colombo, and was taken by A.W.A. Plâté & Co. I love how the palms lean into the shot, almost like they’re in conversation with the villa perched on the hill. You can almost feel the weight of the humidity, the stillness in the air before a storm, and the calm of the ocean as a child paddles in the shallows. I imagine A.W.A. Plâté, positioning the camera just so, waiting for the light to catch the villa. Each palm tree has its own character, and the villa, a silent observer. The photograph reminds me of other colonial views of the pacific, and the way that landscape, architecture and people can imply a whole system of power. But the artist has really shown a sense of place. Photography is a constant dialogue across time, and this scene invites us to contemplate what's changed, what's stayed the same, and how we see each other. It’s a quiet invitation to see the world through someone else's eyes.