Vrouwen aan het werk op een plantage in Nederlands-Indië 1912

Onnes Kurkdjian captured this photograph, using photographic paper, of women working on a plantation in the Dutch East Indies. The photograph's tones are rich and consistent, achieved with the nineteenth-century albumen print process, involving coating paper with egg white, before being exposed to light. The technique creates an image with a warm, sepia tone and a smooth surface, influencing its visual appeal and preserving detail. This process was not merely technical, but part of a larger colonial project. The images were produced to show the productivity of the colonies. The photograph is evidence of the colonial economic system, dependent on agriculture and manual labor. It underscores the social context of this era, raising questions about labor, exploitation, and the representation of colonized people. Looking at it, we should consider the broader economic and social systems that define the scene. This prompts us to consider the amount of work involved in the production process, and the complex relationship between artistry, industry, and colonial power.