Houtkap op plantage Accaribo 1913 - 1930

Editor: This fascinating photographic print, "Houtkap op plantage Accaribo" by Theodoor Brouwers, likely taken between 1913 and 1930, depicts a deforested landscape. It evokes a feeling of stark emptiness. What do you see when you look at this image? Curator: I see a landscape transformed, almost violated. There’s a ghostly quality to it, the monochromatic palette heightening the sense of loss. The stumps scattered across the field become almost like gravestones, wouldn't you agree? A visual elegy, perhaps. Editor: An elegy, yes. It’s like witnessing a crime scene. I was focusing on the clearing, what kind of emotional response would have been stirred when this photograph was taken? Curator: Exactly. The photograph, being a stereo print meant to produce a three-dimensional image, places you *in* that space, making it more palpable. We need to remember the image represents the turn of a century, during an imperial and capitalist boom when people had completely different opinions of how to approach deforestation. So maybe this was seen as a good thing back then. It prompts reflection on the cost of progress, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Definitely. And to think this would have been viewed in 3D is chilling! So, despite its bleakness, does this image offer anything positive? Curator: I think so. There's a raw honesty. It acts as a document, an important, if unsettling, reminder of our impact on the natural world. Sometimes beauty isn't comforting, but crucial. Editor: That’s a powerful way to look at it. I’ll definitely think differently about landscape photography now. Curator: Excellent. These images give us glimpses, and ask us if what we are seeing makes us feel comfort.