Aangelegde weg op de Boeloe Tjina plantage, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This photograph, by Heinrich Ernst & Co, captures a constructed road on the Boeloe Tjina plantation in Sumatra. It invites us to consider the intertwined histories of colonialism, labor, and landscape transformation. The image presents a stark view of a plantation, likely taken during the Dutch colonial period. On first glance it appears to simply document the infrastructure of colonial enterprise, yet a closer look reveals the human cost embedded in this landscape. The road, a symbol of progress for some, was built through the forced labor of others, forever altering the natural environment. The presence of workers in the distance reminds us of the individuals who toiled under harsh conditions. This photograph not only serves as a historical document, but also a call to reflect on the complex legacies of colonialism and its lasting impact on identity, labor, and the environment.