China prentbriefkaart 'Meneer Droogstoppel tot de matrozen' c. 1900 - 1918

This satirical cartoon by Alfaro Reijding, created between 1900 and 1918, depicts a caricature of "Meneer Droogstoppel," a Dutch businessman, amidst a scene of Dutch ships and sailors. Droogstoppel, clad in a yellow coat and a black cap, excitedly reads a newspaper headline about the need for workers in the Dutch East Indies. His gesture suggests enthusiasm for colonial expansion, while the headline highlighting tobacco company dividends ironically juxtaposes the hardship faced by the sailors. This Dutch postcard, likely intended for a popular audience, uses humor to critique the exploitation of colonial labor for the benefit of Dutch businesses.