Gezicht op een plantage met huis van de assistenten in Quala Mintchirim, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This photograph shows a plantation in Quala Mintchirim, Sumatra, and was taken by the company Heinrich Ernst & Co. It likely dates from the late 19th century, a period when the Dutch East India Company controlled much of Indonesia and established plantations for crops like coffee, tea, and tobacco. The image shows a well-maintained road leading to the assistants' house, which is raised on stilts, a common architectural feature in the region. The photograph is a potent visual document of colonial power. Plantations like this were highly regulated, and the social hierarchy was strictly enforced. The Dutch colonial administration relied on a system of forced labor. Understanding this photograph requires us to look into the archives of colonial companies, missionary records, and the accounts of indigenous people. With more historical context, we can better understand the social and institutional histories that shaped this image and the lives of those who lived and worked on this plantation.