Opslag van ivoor te Antwerpen before 1892

This photograph, titled *Opslag van ivoor te Antwerpen*, or *Storage of Ivory in Antwerp*, shows us an ivory warehouse. While the artist remains unknown, this image speaks volumes about its historical context. The photograph captures a specific moment in the colonial era, a time when European powers were exploiting resources and labor from African countries like the Congo. The vast quantity of tusks piled high reveals the brutal scale of the ivory trade, driven by European demand. We see the consequences of rampant extraction and the devastating impact on elephant populations, and on the people whose lands and livelihoods were disrupted by colonial exploitation. The image is not just a record; it’s a stark reminder of the economic systems built on violence and oppression, inviting us to confront the uncomfortable truths about our shared history. In the photograph we see the cost of greed, not only in ecological terms but in human suffering.