Minangkabausche Surau in Baso 1891 - 1912

Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis made this photograph of a Minangkabau Surau in Baso. The grayscale tones give the image a timeless feel. I think about the physical process of photography at this time. Nieuwenhuis carefully composed the shot to capture the unique architecture of the Surau. He also considered the light and shadow to bring out the textures of the wooden building and the surrounding foliage. Look how the thatched roof is constructed, and how the wooden beams are layered. The photograph invites us to consider the meeting of cultures and technologies in the late 19th century. The image provides a snapshot of a specific time and place, but also hints at the broader context of colonialism and cultural exchange. The tones remind me of the photographs of Eugène Atget. Both artists seemed to be recording a way of life that would soon disappear. Art invites us to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations.