Ossenwagen met suikerriet 1870 - 1890

Woodbury and Page made this photograph of an ox-drawn cart with sugar cane sometime in the late nineteenth century. It’s a simple scene of labor, but it speaks volumes about the colonial economy of Java under Dutch rule. Looking closely, we see two Javanese men, one seated atop the fully laden cart, the other standing beside it, his hand resting on the ox. Both appear to be agricultural workers, and the sugar cane is presumably destined for processing at a sugar mill. The presence of the photographer, capturing this scene, adds another layer to the image. As colonial subjects, these men are not only laborers, but also figures in a visual narrative constructed by Europeans. Understanding this image requires delving into the history of Dutch colonialism, the rise of plantation economies, and the social hierarchies that shaped everyday life in Java. Researching the archives of companies involved in sugar production and the personal accounts of workers may reveal the lived experiences behind this photograph. The meaning of this artwork is something that is contingent on social and institutional context.