Echtpaar Justus Gonggrijp en Anna Rühmann-Gonggrijp op plantage Clevia 1911

This photograph, taken by an anonymous artist, captures Justus Gonggrijp and Anna Rühmann-Gonggrijp on the Clevia plantation. As a photographic print, the image embodies a collision of science, technology, and artistry. The process begins with light-sensitive materials that undergo a chemical transformation, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Here, the Gonggrijps are immortalized, their visages rendered in tones of gray against the lush backdrop of their plantation. But beyond its aesthetic qualities, this photograph is a material witness to the structures of labor and class. Plantations were sites of intense agricultural production, often reliant on exploited labor forces. As such, the material conditions of its making are inherently tied to the social and economic context in which it was created. By considering the materials, processes, and social context intertwined in its creation, we can see how photography transcends traditional art and craft boundaries, offering insights into the complex relationships between people, places, and power.