Pagina 12 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

J.W. Meyster took this photograph, now held at the Rijksmuseum, as part of a photo book for the General Association of Rubber Planters on the East Coast of Sumatra. This image, taken in the Dutch East Indies, likely in the early 20th century, presents a posed group of repatriates. The subjects are neatly arranged in rows before a large building. It is highly likely the repatriates were returning to the Netherlands after working on the rubber plantations. The image offers a glimpse into the social and economic structures of colonial Indonesia, where industries like rubber cultivation were central to Dutch economic interests. These plantations often relied on exploitative labor practices, which fueled economic disparities and social tensions. Studying archival documents such as company records, personal letters, and government reports could provide a deeper understanding of the lives and conditions of those involved in the rubber industry and the broader colonial system in which it operated.