Rotapomp Possibly 1931 - 1935

This photograph shows a ‘Rotapomp’ for 'massecuite' and molasses, made in 1931 by an anonymous maker. The Dutch text tells us that this machine was patented by M.F. Braat Soerabaia. It evokes both the industrialization of the Dutch East Indies and the system of sugar production, which was dependent on forced labour and land appropriation. The image creates meaning through its depiction of technology as an agent of both productivity and social control. This 'Rotapomp' highlights the intersection of technological innovation and colonial exploitation in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. It also prompts a discussion about the role of Dutch companies in perpetuating colonial structures through industrial production. To better understand the full significance of this image, we need to look into the archives of Dutch colonial companies, such as M.F. Braat Soerabaia. The history of this ‘Rotapomp’ reminds us that the story of technology cannot be separated from the social conditions of its production and use.