Chinese contractarbeiders sorteren tabaksbladeren in een fermenteerschuur, Sumatra c. 1900 - 1915

This black and white photograph by Carl J. Kleingrothe, titled "Chinese contractarbeiders sorteren tabaksbladeren in een fermenteerschuur, Sumatra", depicts a scene of labor in a Sumatran tobacco factory around the early 20th century. The photograph captures a row of Chinese contract laborers meticulously sorting tobacco leaves in a large, well-lit, and open-air warehouse. The image offers a glimpse into the realities of colonial-era labor practices in Indonesia, highlighting the importance of tobacco cultivation in the region's economy. The photograph's composition emphasizes the repetitive nature of the task, while the stark lighting and close-up perspective draw the viewer into the laborers' world.