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Print works at Merxplas Labour Colony, Belgium
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Print works at Merxplas Labour Colony, Belgium
Print works at Merxplas (or Merksplas) labour colony and beggars depot, Belgium Date: 1934
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Media ID 8200617
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Beggars Colony Depot Labour Merksplas Merxplas
EDITORS COMMENTS
This poignant photograph captures the daily life at the Merxplas Labour Colony and Beggars Depot in Belgium during the 1930s. The Merxplas Labour Colony, also known as the Merksplas Workhouse, was established in 1852 as a place to house and provide work for the destitute, the homeless, and the disabled. By the 1930s, the colony had become a notorious institution, known for its harsh living conditions and forced labor. In this image, we see a group of men at work in the print shop. Their faces are etched with the signs of hardship and toil. They are likely inmates of the labour colony, forced to work long hours in order to earn their keep. The room is dimly lit, and the air thick with the smell of ink and paper. The men work in silence, focused intently on their tasks. In the foreground, we see a group of beggars huddled together, their clothes tattered and worn. They hold out their hands, imploring passersby for alms. It is unclear if they are residents of the labour colony or simply beggars who have come to the depot in search of food and shelter. The photograph offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of life in the Merxplas Labour Colony and Beggars Depot during the Great Depression. It is a reminder of the struggles faced by the most vulnerable members of society during this difficult time and the inadequacy of the institutions meant to help them.
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