Pagina 105 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 captures a Sumatran rubber plantation. The rows of cultivated plants and laborers evoke the historical weight of colonial enterprises. Consider, the image of neatly arranged fields, a motif echoing across time from ancient Roman land divisions to the ordered landscapes in Renaissance paintings. In each case, we witness humankind's attempt to impose order on the natural world. Yet, here, it carries the added burden of colonial exploitation. Observe how this connects to our collective memory, where images of cultivation are often linked to ideas of progress, but also of control. It's a visual tension that plays out, engaging us on a subconscious level. This motif isn't linear; it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reflecting our ever-changing relationship with nature and each other.