Gezicht op een tingroeve te Soengeiliat met pompen, graafinstallaties en mijnwerkers c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph captures a tin mine in Soengeiliat, revealing a landscape transformed by human endeavor. The image is dominated by the angular lines of excavation and rudimentary machinery. The dense concentration of labor invites us to consider the symbol of collective work. Compare it to images of ancient construction sites—the pyramids of Egypt or the mines of Potosí—each bearing witness to the toil and aspirations of humanity. Such labor shares a lineage with images of the Cyclops at their forge. It's a scene teeming with a sense of purpose and relentless effort. The act of mining, deeply rooted in human history, conjures ancient myths of extracting wealth from the earth. The transformation of landscape becomes a canvas reflecting our enduring quest to shape and control the world around us. It's a theme that echoes across time and cultures, continually shaped by our collective memory and the stories we tell ourselves about progress and civilization.