Patiënten poserend voor een ziekenhuis te Pangkalpinang c. 1900 - 1920

This undated photograph from an anonymous artist captures patients posing in front of a hospital in Pangkalpinang, using a photographic process that renders the scene in muted tones. The image feels less about capturing a moment and more about the act of documentation itself. Look closely at the surface; the texture is smooth but alive with subtle gradations. The lack of strong contrast gives it an ethereal quality, as if the scene is veiled in a soft mist. The rows of figures, evenly spaced and facing forward, remind me of minimalist grids, but here, the grid is composed of human beings, each with their own story. There is a sense of stillness that invites contemplation, a quietness that speaks volumes. It is a reminder that art, in all its forms, is ultimately about communication and connection, reaching across time and space to touch our shared humanity. Much like the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, this artist creates a typology of sorts, inviting us to consider the commonalities and differences among the individuals pictured.