Hard Labor Convicts Hauling Construction Materials to Worksites in Gornyi Zerentui, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

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Hard Labor Convicts Hauling Construction Materials to Worksites in Gornyi Zerentui, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

Hard Labor Convicts Hauling Construction Materials to Worksites in Gornyi Zerentui, 1891. One of 74 views taken in July 1891 and contained in the albumTipy i vidy Nerchinskoi katorgi (Views and inhabitants of Nerchinsk hard labor camps). The Nerchinskkatorgawas part of the katorga (forced labor) system of imperial Russia, located in the province of Transbaikalia (present-day Zabaykal'skiy Kray), near the Russian border with China. The katorga was administered by the Ministry of Interior and included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy, all of which are depicted in the album. National Library of Russia

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Aleksei Kirillovich Kuznetsov Aleksei Kuznetsov Building Materials Cart Construction Industry Convict Convicts Exile Exiled Forced Labour Guards Handcart Hard Labour Hauling Katorga Kuznetsov Aleksei Labour Camp Nerchinsk Transbaikal Territory Russia Penal Servitude Prison Camp Prisoner Prisoners Pulling Punishing Punishment Siberia Siberian Transbaikal Russia Zabaykalsky Krai Russia Meeting Of Frontiers White And Black

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph, titled "Hard Labor Convicts Hauling Construction Materials to Worksites in Gornyi Zerentui," was captured by Russian photographer Aleksei Kuznetsov in 1891. The image is part of a larger collection, "Views and Inhabitants of Nerchinsk Hard Labor Camps," which documents the daily life and harsh conditions of the Nerchinsk katorga, a penal labor camp system in Transbaikalia, Russia. Located near the Russian border with China, the Nerchinsk katorga was overseen by the Ministry of Interior and included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy. In this photograph, a group of convicts are seen hauling construction materials up a hill using handcarts. The steep terrain and heavy loads are a testament to the grueling labor that was expected of these prisoners. The convicts are closely monitored by guards, who ensure that they maintain a steady pace and complete their tasks efficiently. The men are dressed in tattered clothing and appear weary and exhausted, their faces etched with lines of hardship and toil. The image offers a stark reminder of the punishing conditions and harsh realities of Russia's penal servitude system during the late 19th century. The photograph also provides a glimpse into the industrial and geographical features of the region, with the rolling hills and rugged terrain serving as a backdrop to the laborers' toil. The construction materials, which include bricks and timber, suggest that the prisoners were building infrastructure projects or constructing new buildings. Overall, this powerful image offers a poignant and unforgettable portrayal of the human cost of forced labor in imperial Russia.

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