Omploegen van sawahs met behulp van karbouwen 1900 - 1935

This stereoscopic photograph titled Omploegen van sawahs met behulp van karbouwen was made by Neville Keasberry. The sepia tones and subdued light, capture a moment of labour and tranquility in what I imagine must be Java. The photograph's surface is smooth, almost like glass, which gives it a timeless quality. You can almost feel the humidity in the air and imagine the soft squelch of mud under the feet of the farmer and the water buffalo. The way the reflections shimmer on the water gives a sense of depth, pulling me into the scene. It reminds me a little of some of Gerhard Richter’s blurred paintings, like he’s taken a photograph and smeared it slightly to create an atmospheric effect. It also speaks to a wider history of landscape painting, and how artists have long sought to capture the essence of a place. Ultimately, it's the image's stillness, that suggests a world of stories waiting to be told.