Plantage Accaribo 1913 - 1930

Theodoor Brouwers made this stereograph, Plantage Accaribo, in the Dutch East Indies. Stereographs like this one were a popular form of entertainment and education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image depicts a man, likely an overseer or manager, standing amidst a plantation, possibly of sugar cane or rubber. The photograph presents a seemingly neutral view of plantation life, but it's important to consider the social conditions that shaped this image. The Dutch East Indies were a colony, and plantations were a key part of the colonial economy, often relying on forced labor and exploitative practices. This photograph, like many images from colonial contexts, serves as a visual document, reinforcing the colonial project and masking the realities of exploitation. To fully understand this stereograph, one must investigate the archives, the economic histories of the Dutch East Indies, and the personal accounts of those who lived and worked on the plantations. These resources help us to interpret images and gain a deeper appreciation for the complex and often troubling stories behind them.