Pagina 133 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

This photograph by J.W. Meyster is from a photobook documenting the rubber plantations on the east coast of Sumatra. The grey scale flattens the image, creating a scene which seems both real and like a distant memory. It seems like Meyster is trying to capture not just the dam, but the industrialization of nature itself. The texture of the water looks solid as it pours over the dam, contrasting with the softness of the natural landscape in the background. I’m drawn to the way the light hits the water, creating a sense of movement and energy. The photograph feels like a frozen moment in time, capturing the tension between human intervention and the natural world. This piece reminds me of some of the landscape photography of the Bechers. Like them, Meyster is documenting how industrialization and progress are shaping the world, raising important questions about our relationship with the environment. Art invites us to see the world in new ways, prompting us to question our assumptions and consider different perspectives.