Contractarbeiders sorteren tabak in Soengei-Mentjirin, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This photograph, "Contractarbeiders sorteren tabak in Soengei-Mentjirin, Sumatra", taken by Heinrich Ernst & Co. between 1890 and 1900, captures a moment of daily life in Sumatra. The image shows a group of workers sorting tobacco leaves in a large, open-air shed. The scene is dominated by the long rows of workers, their backs to the viewer, diligently sorting the tobacco leaves. Two European supervisors are visible at the back of the photograph, overseeing the work. The photograph offers a glimpse into the labor conditions and colonial economy of the Dutch East Indies during the late 19th century. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the human cost of colonial exploitation and the importance of remembering the lives of the workers who produced the goods that fueled the global economy.