Twee suikerrietplanten die zijn aangetast door de Serehziekte before 1898

Jean Pierre Moquette captured these two sugarcane plants afflicted by the sereh disease, immortalizing their suffering. The wilting leaves, hanging like defeated banners, speak of decline. Consider this image alongside depictions of the "Ecce Homo," where Christ is presented, crowned with thorns, his body weakened. Both share a symbolism of endurance and suffering. The sugarcane, once vibrant, now succumbs to illness. Like the "Ecce Homo," it embodies a kind of tragic beauty, a visible representation of the ravages of time and disease. Historically, plants have symbolized life and regeneration. These plants, however, present a twist on this theme, reflecting human anxieties about mortality and decay. The sereh disease preying on the sugarcane evokes a sense of vulnerability. This photographic depiction, with its stark portrayal, engages our subconscious recognition of mortality and the cycle of life.