Het binnenbrengen van de koffiepluk in grote zakken op de rug door Javaanse werknemers. 1900 - 1935

This stereoscopic photograph shows Javanese workers carrying sacks of coffee. With photography, the process is all about capturing light, freezing a moment. The sepia tones give it this antiquated feel, but it's the composition that really grabs me. Look at the crowd; each person seems to have their own story etched into their face, a sort of beautiful, chaotic messiness. The bags on their backs are huge and look heavy, but it’s just an image. It doesn’t smell or hurt. It's a quiet image, really. It makes me think of other photographers, like August Sander, who documented people with such stark honesty. Art is this ongoing conversation, each piece building on the last, and this photograph whispers a story about labor, about humanity, and about how we see each other. It's an image that invites you to look, to feel, and to question.