Leidinggevenden van plantage(s) in de velden van tabaksplantage Boeloe Tjina op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph, "Leidinggevenden van plantage(s) in de velden van tabaksplantage Boeloe Tjina op Sumatra", was taken by an anonymous artist. Look at the endless rows of tobacco plants stretching into the distance. There's a certain rhythm created by the repetition, but also a starkness in the monochrome palette. It reminds us that artmaking, even in photography, is a process of selection and framing. What do we choose to show, and what do we leave out? The texture in the photograph is incredible, you can almost feel the weight of the leaves, the solidity of the soil. Notice the two figures in white, standing apart from the density of the plantation. There's a tension between their crisp, clean forms and the organic chaos of the plants. It's a powerful image, and it makes me think of the work of someone like Bernd and Hilla Becher, with its detached observation. But here, the anonymity adds another layer of complexity. Art isn’t always about answers; sometimes, it's about asking the right questions, and I think this photograph does that beautifully.