Manual Labour Collection (#5)

Scaffolding construction being erected in Central Doha, Doha, Qatar, Middle East

Paper roll machine
MODEL RELEASED. Paper machine operators

Boys working in a coal mine
Boys working in a mine. Historical artwork of two young boys pushing a cart along a railway in a coal mine. These boys were known as putters

Gold paper rolls
MODEL RELEASED. Gold paper rolls. Worker moving rolls of gold paper

Gas line construction. Worker testing the join between two pipes during the construction of a gas line. In the background, a series of parasols can be seen

Android robot, artwork
Android robot, computer artwork. Android robots are being developed that will be able to navigate obstacles while carrying out simple tasks

Wine production, 19th century artwork. Workers in a wine cellar adding grapes to vats and presses. At right, crushing, stomping

Edam production, 19th century artwork. Cheese maker kneading and moulding Edam cheese in the Netherlands. Cheese is a processed food made from proteins and fat present in milk

Oil press, 19th century artwork. Workers operating an olive oil press in the south of France. The olives are placed in the press and the lever used to turn the screws and increase the pressure

Health and safety at work theme with yellow door and manual worker in the background

A women washing clothes in a mountain stream in Bukaya in the Fijian highlands
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Rice farming, Sri Lanka, Asia

Sugar cane fields, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean

Sugar cane cutting by hand, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean

Rice fields, Bali, Indonesia

Rice terraces near Jatiluwih, Bali, Indonesia

The cotton harvest, Gujarat State, India

Paddy Fields, farmers planting rice, Kashmir, India

Batsi, Andros, Cyclades Islands, Greece, Europe

Harvested pineapples, Guadeloupe, French Antilles, Caribbean, West Indies

Girls depositing rice tax, Government rice depot near Thaton, Myanmar, Asia

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"Unyielding Dedication: A Glimpse into the World of Manual Labour" From the towering Miner statue in Tonypandy, Rhondda Valley, Glamorgan, Wales, to the coal riddling workshop at Blanzy's mines in 1860s Europe - manual labour has left an indelible mark on our history. In Camelsdale, 1937, amidst the rhythmic tapping of hammers and the scent of fresh wood shavings, skilled hands crafted intricate bee skeps. Meanwhile, at Great Yarmouth's quayside in Norfolk, England steam-powered machinery hummed as fishermen tirelessly unloaded their catch from herring fisheries. Across oceans and continents lies Cuba; where under a scorching sun in c. 1910 black and white photos reveal men harvesting sugar cane with unwavering determination. The weighty bundles were then loaded onto carts by sweat-soaked workers who knew no respite. Journeying further south to Morocco's Chouara Tannery within Fes el Bali's ancient Medina walls reveals artisans immersed waist-deep in vibrant dyes while tending to leather hides - a testament to generations of craftsmanship passed down through time. The manufacture of indigo dye found its place both historically and geographically diverse – whether it be South Carolina in 1770 or Szechuan during 1867-72 China. These images depict laborers meticulously extracting nature's hues for textiles that would adorn countless lives. Finally arriving at Imperial Valley near Meloland California in 1939 brings us face-to-face with Dorothea Lange’s poignant photograph capturing stooped figures tying carrots against a backdrop of vast fields – embodying resilience amidst adversity. These glimpses into various corners of our world remind us that manual labour is not confined by borders but rather unites humanity through shared experiences, and is through these tireless efforts that progress is forged and legacies are built, shaping our past and inspiring our future.