Coolies constructing a road c. 1890 - 1900

Stafhell & Kleingrothe made this photograph entitled 'Coolies constructing a road'. It depicts the harsh realities of colonial labor, showing a group of workers building infrastructure in what appears to be a dense, tropical environment. The term "coolies" itself is loaded with historical baggage, denoting indentured laborers often subjected to exploitative conditions. This image, devoid of romanticism, presents a stark view of the human cost of development. Consider the gaze of the photographers, framing these laborers within a specific power dynamic. The road being constructed could symbolize progress, but also exploitation and extraction of resources from colonized lands. To understand this image, we need to delve into the history of colonialism, labor practices, and the visual codes used to represent colonized peoples. By consulting historical archives, colonial records, and postcolonial studies, we can better understand the complex social and institutional context in which this photograph was produced and consumed. The meaning of the art lies in the social context in which it was made.