Petroleum Fields and Gas Burning, Aceh — C.J. Kleingrothe, ca. 1910
Industrial photogravure sheet showing early petroleum extraction in Aceh at the northern end of Sumatra. The upper view depicts a broad landscape of wooden derricks, workshops, and living quarters, illustrating the rapid expansion of the oil industry in the first decades of the 20th century. The lower image records the controlled burning of escaping natural gas — a common sight around early petroleum wells, before modern capture systems were implemented.
This plate was produced by Charles J. Kleingrothe, the leading photographer in Medan during the Deli plantation era. While his documentation of tobacco and rubber plantations is well known, original photographs of the petroleum sector are significantly rarer. These images offer a revealing look at the birth of one of Indonesia’s most important economic sectors, long before the rise of the national oil industry. The terrain shown here is believed to be connected to one of the earliest Dutch-operated oil fields in Aceh Province.
Printed in warm photogravure tones on its original heavy card mount, the sheet includes multilingual captions in German, Dutch, and English. Plates depicting energy infrastructure from this period are increasingly valued by collectors of industrial history and Southeast Asian development.
Condition report: Very good. Minor scattered foxing to outer margins and mild age toning. Photogravure images remain clean with excellent detail and no creases or tears. Verso clean.
Framing tips: A dark frame, such as matte black or oiled teak, reinforces the industrial subject. A wide off-white mat helps emphasize the dual-image composition. UV-protective glazing recommended.
Technique: Photogravure on original card mount Maker: C.J. Kleingrothe, Medan, ca. 1910 Printer: J.B. Obernetter, München
Keywords: Aceh, early petroleum, oil industry history, Indonesia energy history, Dutch East Indies, natural gas burning, industrial Southeast Asia, colonial photography, resource extraction history
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