Sorteren van rubber before 1892

This undated photograph, titled "Sorting Rubber," depicts workers in what appears to be an industrial setting. It offers a window into the global economic systems of its time. The image likely originates from a European publication, given the French text surrounding it. The photograph captures a scene of labor, probably somewhere in the colonial world, where raw rubber was being processed for export. The workers, likely local populations, are engaged in the manual sorting of rubber. This process highlights the stark inequalities inherent in colonial economies. The rubber industry, fueled by European demand, often involved exploitative labor practices in colonized territories. Understanding this image requires considering the broader context of European colonialism and the global trade in resources during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Historical archives, trade records, and accounts from the period shed light on these exploitative systems, making art historical analysis indispensable.