Eerste kantoor van Bennink en Riphagen 1914 - 1919

This photograph of 'Eerste kantoor van Bennink en Riphagen' shows a small building set in a tropical landscape. It must have been a strange and novel experience to set up shop here, I wonder who took it and why? The building is modest but solid, with the company name prominently displayed, in contrast to its natural surroundings. The contrast captures a moment of ambition and the desire to establish a presence in a new territory. The shadows cast by the trees and the soft light filtering through the leaves must have been visually intriguing to the photographer. The photo evokes the quiet hum of everyday life. In a way it’s similar to the photos I take on my phone everyday, full of intention but kind of throw away. I like to think of all image making, even the seemingly incidental, as a part of an ongoing cultural exchange.