De aanleg van een weg door contractarbeiders in Quala Bingei, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This black and white photograph, taken by Heinrich Ernst & Co. between 1890 and 1900, captures a scene of contract laborers building a road in Quala Bingei, Sumatra. The image, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases a group of workers, likely indigenous Sumatrans, engaged in the arduous task of road construction. It offers a glimpse into the colonial era and the labor practices that characterized this period in Southeast Asia. The photo highlights the importance of infrastructure development during colonialism, demonstrating how roads facilitated trade, transportation, and resource extraction. It provides a valuable historical document of colonial labor and the impact of European influence on the region.