Gouverneur met sisalplant c. 1912 - 1913

These two small black and white photographs are from an anonymous photographer, showing a Governor with a sisal plant. What was the photographer thinking, I wonder, framing the world in this way? There’s a real interest in the play of light and shadow. The Governor's clothing is almost glowing white. I wonder, was the photographer trying to capture a sense of the Governor's authority? The sisal plant itself is also fascinating. It's like the photographer is interested in this foreign plant, and how it's impacting the land. It speaks to the relationship between humans and nature, power and place. All artists, including photographers, are in a constant dialogue with each other, building on ideas, challenging norms, and pushing the boundaries of their medium. This image shows me that photography, like painting, is a form of embodied expression, embracing the ambiguity and uncertainty of the world around us.