Personeel in de suikerfabriek 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen's photograph captures the personnel within a sugar factory. Here, the stark imagery of industrial labor is brought to the fore, the white uniforms of the workers set against the dark, looming machinery. This is a fascinating tableau, reminiscent of other works that explore the theme of labor. Consider the iconography of labor in the context of the sugar trade, a product historically associated with exploitation and colonial power. The sugar factory here is a modern-day temple, where the workers, dressed in white, are the priests. The photograph creates a stage where we can see a very intense emotion: anxiety. Ultimately, this photograph, like many historical images, invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of history, the power of symbols, and the way human emotion continues to resonate across time.