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

This photograph captures the garden of the Gedong Djohore cultural enterprise, owned by the Deli-Batavia Company near Medan. Though anonymous, the photographer worked in a colonial context in which landscape imagery often served to promote the idea of an orderly, productive, and beautiful colony. Here, the manicured garden, the neatly arranged trees, and the well-maintained grounds visually reinforce the company's claim to progress and prosperity under its management. The image subtly celebrates the economic exploitation of the region, where large-scale agricultural enterprises like the Deli-Batavia Company extracted resources, reshaping the landscape and labor practices. This company was involved in the cultivation of tobacco, a crop that required significant labor and resources. Historians can contextualize this image by researching the Deli-Batavia Company, the history of Medan, and colonial photography. In doing so, the photograph becomes more than a scenic view; it becomes a document of colonial power, economic interests, and the transformation of a landscape.