Bureau van den directeur c. 1902

Tan Tjie Lan’s photograph captures an office space, preserving a moment in time, a director’s bureau. I imagine Tan Tjie Lan carefully framing the space, considering the balance of light and shadow. It must have been a careful process of setting up the shot, composing the scene, and waiting for the right moment to release the shutter. I imagine the artist contemplating how to best represent this space, with all its stories and secrets. Look at the angles and lines, the way the light defines the shape of each object. The scene is still and quiet, but it also suggests a sense of anticipation, as if waiting for the next chapter to unfold. It reminds me of Edward Hopper. Both tell stories of loneliness through ordinary scenes. Ultimately, this photograph is not just a record of a particular place, but a testament to the artist’s vision, capturing a fleeting moment and transforming it into something timeless.