Verplegers en patiënten in de kliniek van suikerfabriek Ngandjoek op Java c. 1925 - 1930

This photograph by Isken depicts nurses and patients inside the clinic of the Ngandjoek sugar factory in Java. The image offers a glimpse into the social and economic structures of colonial Indonesia. Sugar factories were a key part of the Dutch colonial economy, and the health of the workers was crucial for maintaining productivity. The clinic itself represents the intersection of colonial power, industrial capitalism, and healthcare. Note the Javanese patients and medical staff, each group marked by distinct ethnic codes. The photograph prompts us to question the power dynamics inherent in colonial medicine. Was healthcare provided out of genuine concern for the workers' well-being, or primarily to ensure a productive labor force? What was the experience of being a Javanese patient in a colonial medical institution? To answer these questions, historians might turn to archival sources, such as records from the sugar factory, medical reports, and personal accounts from patients and healthcare workers. By placing the photograph in its broader social and institutional context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex realities of colonial life in Java.