Houtzagers in een bos (boven) en houttransport met olifanten bij Lau Boentoe (onder) op Sumatra before 1898

Carl J. Kleingrothe created this print of woodcutters and elephants transporting wood in Sumatra. The image offers a glimpse into the economic activities within the former Dutch East Indies, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The composition is split, showing both the harvesting of wood and its transportation. The presence of elephants suggests the integration of local labor practices with colonial resource extraction. This print provides a visual record of the ways natural resources were exploited in colonial contexts. These activities would have had a lasting impact on both the environment and the social structures of the region. By exploring sources from the period, we can understand the complex layers of economic, social, and ecological change shaped by colonial rule and the growth of capitalism. The role of the historian is to connect such images with the broader currents of institutional and social history.