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Political Prisoners in Jail on Con Son Island
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Political Prisoners in Jail on Con Son Island
Con Son Island, the largest island of the Con Dao archipelago, off the coast of southern Vietnam. In 1861, the French colonial government established a prison on the island to house political prisoners. Here the prisoners are making cane furniture. It looks likely that the card was sent by one of the French Warders. Date: circa 1907
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Media ID 11551680
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Cane Chairs Condor Gaol Jail Prisoner Prisoners Pulo Furniture
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This evocative photograph captures a moment in the history of Con Son Island, the largest island in the Con Dao archipelago off the coast of southern Vietnam. In 1861, the French colonial government established a prison on the island to house political prisoners. The image, dated circa 1907, depicts a group of prisoners engaged in making cane furniture, including chairs, on the island. The meticulously crafted pieces suggest a sense of industry and determination amidst the harsh conditions of the penal colony. The prisoners, dressed in tattered clothing and barefoot, work intently, their faces expressing a range of emotions from concentration to exhaustion. The scene is reminiscent of the infamous penal colonies of Devil's Island and Alcatraz, yet the cane furniture production adds an unexpected element of creativity and skill to the image. The photograph was likely taken by a French warder, offering a unique perspective into the daily life of the prison and the prisoners. The use of natural light and the composition of the image, with the prisoners arranged in a semi-circle around the furniture, creates a striking visual narrative that transports us back in time. Con Son Island's prison held political prisoners for over a century, with the last inmates released in 1954. Today, the island is a popular tourist destination, with visitors drawn to its pristine beaches and rich history. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the island's past as a place of imprisonment and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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