S.F. Goenoengsari. Verdamping- en kookpanfundatie met centrale Condensatie op den achtergrond. 6 November 1926. 1926

This black and white photograph, taken on November 6, 1926, captures the S.F. Goenoengsari, or Goenoengsari sugar factory, during the construction of its evaporation and boiling pan foundation. The image, taken by an anonymous photographer, offers a glimpse into the industrial expansion occurring in the Dutch East Indies during this period. The photograph reveals not just the physical construction of the factory but also hints at the socio-economic structures of the time. The sugar industry in the Dutch East Indies heavily relied on local labor under colonial rule, embedding issues of race and class within its foundations. You can almost feel the weight of this history. While the photographer remains unknown, their perspective invites reflection on the complex relationship between colonial power and local labor. It reminds us to consider the unseen hands that built these industries and the unequal power dynamics that shaped their lives.