East Indies · 19th century
€ 240
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good for its age. Light toning and mild spotting in the wide margins. Image area clean and strong. Clear plate mark visible. No tears. Unmounted and unframed.
Coolie Dwellings – Tandjong-Morawa, Sumatra (Kleingrothe, c.1900)
A striking and historically significant original photogravure by C.J. Kleingrothe, documenting the workers’ barracks on the large plantation estates near Medan, North Sumatra, around 1900. The image shows long rows of laborers’ houses—simple thatched-roof structures aligned beneath towering coconut palms—an iconic visual of the Deli tobacco and plantation industry during the Dutch colonial era.
Kleingrothe, a German photographer based in Medan, is widely considered the most important visual chronicler of Sumatra’s development under European plantation companies. His photographs offer invaluable insight into the architecture, labor conditions, and landscapes shaped by the export economy. Works from this series have become rare and essential primary sources for curators, historians, and collectors in Southeast Asian heritage.
This large-format print retains exceptional detail and tonal richness, highlighting both the beauty of the tropical environment and the stark simplicity of the labor infrastructure that supported one of the world’s most profitable early 20th-century agricultural sectors.
Perfect for collectors of colonial-era photography, industrial heritage, or Southeast Asian history.
Condition: Very good for its age. Light toning and mild spotting in the wide margins. Image area clean and strong. Clear plate mark visible. No tears. Unmounted and unframed.
Framing Suggestions:
A dark wood or teak frame enhances the plantation-era setting. Alternately, a minimalist black frame with an ivory mat creates a refined gallery presentation.
Technique: Photogravure
Maker: C.J. Kleingrothe, Medan, circa 1900
