Interior of the Sugar Factory of the Firm Vom Rath
1885
Step into a bustling 19th-century sugar factory where giant white cones of refined sugar dominate the scene. Workers in heavy aprons haul these massive 'sugar loaves'—the standard form of sugar before cubes were invented—while a massive belt-driven wheel powers the machinery in the background. Even the factory cats seem to be supervising the operation, wandering across the wooden floorboards in this lively sketch by Ernst Witkamp from 1885. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the heavy labor required to satisfy our sweet tooth before modern automation took over.
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