Tabakpersers in Tandjong-Retoes, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This photograph, titled "Tabakpersers in Tandjong-Retoes, Sumatra," by Heinrich Ernst & Co., depicts a scene from the 1890s or early 1900s inside a tobacco factory in the region of Tandjong-Retoes on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The image showcases the labor process of tobacco pressing, with individuals working on a variety of tasks related to this process, including sorting and packing tobacco leaves. The photograph captures a moment of daily life in a colonial setting, providing insight into the working conditions of the time. The image is an excellent example of photojournalism and ethnographic photography, offering valuable documentation of a specific aspect of colonial life in the late 19th century.