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Poster depicting a cocoa estate in Trinidad
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Poster depicting a cocoa estate in Trinidad
Poster for the Empire Marketing Board, depicting a cocoa estate in Trinidad
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4434603
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10281717
Baskets Caribbean Cocoa Colonialism Conditions Estate Idealised Indies Marketing Romanticised Trinidad
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This evocative poster, produced by the Empire Marketing Board in the 1930s, transports us back in time to a romanticized vision of a cocoa estate in the Caribbean, specifically in Trinidad. The image is rich in historical and colonial undertones, with the sun setting over the lush, verdant landscape, casting long shadows over the rows of cocoa trees. The idealized scene is populated by figures of laborers, depicted in traditional attire, carrying baskets of ripe cocoa pods on their heads, as they make their way towards the estate's central building. The poster, with its warm, earthy tones and intricate details, was part of a larger marketing campaign aimed at promoting trade between the British colonies and the United Kingdom. The Empire Marketing Board, established in 1926, was tasked with creating a sense of unity and shared identity among the various territories of the British Empire. This poster, and others like it, were designed to showcase the beauty and productivity of the colonies, while also emphasizing the importance of the labor force in maintaining the success of the agricultural industry. Despite the idyllic and picturesque portrayal, it is important to remember that the conditions of labor on cocoa estates in the Caribbean during this period were often harsh and demanding. Long hours, low wages, and difficult working conditions were common, with laborers facing the added challenges of extreme weather and the threat of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. This poster, with its intriguing blend of history, colonialism, and romance, invites us to reflect on the complex and multifaceted relationship between the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and the global cocoa trade. It serves as a reminder of the rich history and cultural exchange that has shaped the world we live in today.
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