Pagina 78 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

This photograph, Page 78 from a photo book by J.W. Meyster, shows a deforested landscape in Sumatra. The monochrome palette really emphasizes the devastation and the relentless drive for rubber production. What strikes me is the texture, the almost overwhelming density of broken branches and stumps. It’s not just a scene; it's a physical space you can almost feel under your feet. The way the light catches on the rough surfaces, the splintered ends of the wood, it’s all so raw. Look at the center of the image, how the lines of the fallen trees converge. It creates a kind of vortex, pulling you into this destroyed space, forcing you to witness it. It reminds me of some of the landscapes of Anselm Kiefer, where destruction and renewal are intertwined, a testament to the cyclical nature of history and the scars left by human ambition. Ultimately, this image is about more than just rubber; it's about what we do to the world, and what that says about us.