Rubberplantage op Sumatra: gekapt bos (boven), zaadbedden (midden), zaailingen (onder) before 1898

Carl J. Kleingrothe created this photographic print, “Rubberplantage op Sumatra,” to capture scenes from a Sumatran rubber plantation. The composition is divided into three horizontal registers, each presenting a different stage of rubber cultivation. The grayscale tonality throughout lends a documentary feel, emphasizing texture and form over color. The upper register depicts a deforested landscape, evoking an emotional response tied to the environmental impact of resource extraction. The eye is drawn to the stark contrast between the cleared land and the remaining trees, highlighting the scale of deforestation. Moving to the middle register, we see workers engaged in planting. The structured rows of seedbeds introduce a sense of order. In the bottom register, the tight arrangement of seedlings creates a dense texture, suggesting both potential and the intensive labor required for cultivation. Kleingrothe’s choice to segment the process into distinct visual components invites us to consider the structured and systemic nature of plantation economies. This work underscores how even seemingly natural landscapes are shaped by human intervention.