Gezicht op Kesawanstraat in Medan, Sumatra (Kesawanstrasse von Süden gesehen) c. 1890 - 1900

Curator: Looking at this photograph, my first impression is the stillness despite it capturing a bustling street scene. There’s a sense of quiet observation. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is a photographic print from around 1890 to 1900, attributed to Stafhell & Kleingrothe. The work titled "Gezicht op Kesawanstraat in Medan, Sumatra," or "View of Kesawan Street in Medan, Sumatra" offers a glimpse into urban life during that period. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Medan...The imagery is intriguing, wouldn't you say? Notice how the converging lines of the street draw the eye to a distant church spire. To me, that almost creates a sense of implied destiny or guidance for the viewer within this cityscape. What symbolic resonance does it trigger for you? Editor: It speaks volumes about the colonial presence and its symbolic penetration into the local landscape. The church spire juxtaposed against the local architecture tells a silent story of cultural imposition. You get the feel that western architecture contrasts distinctly with the buildings alongside Kesawan street. Curator: Precisely. The photograph’s composition reveals how colonial power literally reshaped the urban landscape. But more than that, I find it striking how the photographer captured the subtle negotiation between colonizers and colonized. The very act of photographing becomes a socio-political event, reinforcing hierarchies while inadvertently documenting resistance. Editor: Absolutely. And the very act of preserving the street hints that the trade that takes place here has been occurring for years, the image almost implying it will keep occuring far into the future. What do you see of that implication here? Curator: I concur. Looking at this piece, it reminds me how seemingly simple street scenes can reveal so much about cultural dynamics and historical power structures. Editor: I agree completely.