Groepsfoto personeel suikerfabriek 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen's photograph captures a group of workers outside a sugar factory, its date unknown. The image presents an opportunity to explore labor relations in a colonial context. Factories like this one shaped the economic and social landscapes of many countries. Sugar production, in particular, was often associated with exploitative labor practices. Here, the workers are seated on the ground, while a few figures stand apart, possibly supervisors. The architecture of the factory is imposing. The name "TIONAL" appears above the door. The building may be read as a symbol of power and control. Photographs like this one served multiple purposes. For the factory owners, it was a record of their workforce and their industrial achievements. It also provides a glimpse into the lives of the workers and their place within a larger economic system. Further research into sugar production in the region, archival records of the factory, and oral histories of workers could provide valuable insights into the social and institutional context of this image.