Interieur van de suikerfabriek van de suikeronderneming Nieuw Tersana, Cheribon, voormalig Nederlands-Indië c. 1890 - 1911

This photograph shows the interior of the Nieuw Tersana sugar factory in Cheribon, in the former Dutch East Indies, and was taken by Onnes Kurkdjian. The image captures the industrial processes of sugar production and raises questions about colonialism and labor. The photograph's composition emphasizes the scale of the factory. It speaks to the economic interests driving Dutch colonialism, which relied on the exploitation of resources and labor in the Indies. The workers, who were likely local Indonesians, are dwarfed by the machinery, highlighting their role in this industrial system. The photograph documents the institutionalization of labor practices, reflecting the unequal power dynamics between colonizers and colonized. To fully understand this image, one might consult archives related to Dutch colonial history and economic records detailing the sugar trade. This photograph serves as a visual document of the social and institutional structures that shaped colonial Indonesia, a reminder of the complex and often exploitative relationships between colonizers and local populations.