Erf van het huis van de administrateur van onderneming Polonia van de Deli Maatschappij te Medan c. 1900 - 1920

This photograph captures the estate of the administrator for the Polonia enterprise of the Deli Company in Medan. Though the photographer is unknown, the image speaks volumes about the social hierarchies of colonial Indonesia. The photograph, likely taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, presents a carefully composed view of power and privilege. The grand house, elevated and set amidst lush greenery, symbolizes the administrator's authority. The lone figure, possibly the administrator or a member of his household, is placed to the left of the frame. We get a sense of the institutional structure of colonial capitalism. The Deli Company was a major player in the tobacco industry, exploiting land and labor in the region. Images like these can be studied alongside company records, personal diaries, and oral histories to uncover a richer understanding of colonial life. It offers a glimpse into the complex social structures of its time.