Gezicht op Station Smalspoor van de Deli Maatschappij te Stabat, Sumatra (S.S. Stabat) c. 1885 - 1900

This black and white photograph presents a view of the Smalspoor Station of the Deli Company in Stabat, Sumatra, captured by Carl J. Kleingrothe. The composition, sharply rendered, draws the eye along the converging railway tracks towards the waiting train. The photograph's structure reveals a deliberate arrangement of elements. The geometric lines of the tracks and buildings contrast with the organic shapes of the surrounding foliage. This interplay creates a visual tension, perhaps echoing the contrast between industrial progress and the natural landscape. Kleingrothe has used light and shadow to enhance the texture of the buildings and the train, emphasizing their materiality. The monochromatic palette simplifies the scene, highlighting the stark realities of colonial infrastructure. The photograph functions as a historical document but also as a carefully constructed image. It uses lines and forms to depict the complexities of colonial expansion and its impact on the landscape.