Pagina 120 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

This photograph by J.W. Meyster is from an album documenting the Sumatran rubber industry. It depicts the process of coagulation, crucial to transforming latex into usable rubber. The image reveals the infrastructure required for this transformation: wooden vats and piping dominate the scene. The raw latex, harvested from rubber trees through labor-intensive tapping, was processed on a massive scale in factories like this one. The photograph aestheticizes this industrial process; there's a clear fascination with the geometry and scale of the equipment. Yet, this aestheticization obscures the realities of labor and colonialism inherent in rubber production. The image serves as a reminder that the materials and processes we often take for granted are deeply intertwined with social and political contexts. It encourages us to consider the full story behind everyday items, challenging any simplistic view of design and manufacturing.