Pagina 56 en 57 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

This is page 56 from a photo book made by J.W. Meyster for the General Association of Rubber Planters on the East Coast of Sumatra. The image provides a glimpse into the industrialized processing of rubber during a period of intense colonial exploitation in the Dutch East Indies. The photograph creates meaning through its depiction of modern machinery and a well-lit factory setting. This imagery promotes the idea of efficiency and progress, while also conveying the scale and organization required for rubber production on plantations. Sumatra was a key site for rubber cultivation due to its climate and geographical location. The industry's reliance on indigenous labor shaped the social and economic structures on the island. The institutional context is vital; associations such as the General Association of Rubber Planters played a central role in shaping labor practices. To fully understand this image, we need to look into the archives of colonial-era companies and the writings of social historians.