Tuin van cultuuronderneming Gedong Djohore van de Deli-Batavia Maatschappij bij Medan c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph shows the garden of the Gedong Djohore cultural enterprise of the Deli-Batavia Company near Medan. Notice the deliberate arrangement of the tropical flora. The composition leads our eye along a path lined with trees and decorative planters, suggesting an idealized and controlled vision of nature. The palm tree, a recurring symbol across cultures, here represents both exoticism and prosperity, its presence a testament to the fertile lands cultivated by the company. Consider how such symbols of the exotic found their way into European art and gardens, reflecting a longing for paradise, and a desire to domesticate the wild. Yet, this representation is far from innocent; the manicured garden speaks to a colonial enterprise, where nature is both a resource and a display of power. The image thus taps into a deep, subconscious tension between admiration and exploitation.