Gezicht op Sennah Allee, Tandjong Poera, Sumatra (Sennah Allee Tandjong Poera) c. 1885 - 1900

Carl Kleingrothe's photograph, "Gezicht op Sennah Allee, Tandjong Poera, Sumatra," captures a street view in Sumatra, part of the Dutch East Indies, likely taken in the late 19th or early 20th century. This image isn't just a depiction of a road; it speaks volumes about the colonial project. The neatly arranged trees and ordered landscape represent the imposition of European ideals of order and control onto the Indonesian environment. The photograph, in its composition and subject matter, reflects the Dutch colonial administration's efforts to transform and manage the landscape for economic and strategic purposes. The very act of photographing and documenting this scene serves to assert colonial power and knowledge. To fully understand this photograph, one might delve into archives documenting the Dutch East Indies Company, colonial administrative records, and even botanical surveys of the region. These sources can reveal the intricate web of social, economic, and political forces at play in shaping this seemingly simple street view.