Striking early 20th-century postcard showing laborers—men and women—working on a coffee plantation identified as Fazenda Montevideo in Brazil. This rare image captures rural labor in action: women sifting coffee cherries, men raking and gathering beans, and overseers observing the process. The human presence and landscape combine in a powerful depiction of plantation life, likely involving European immigrant labor.
On the reverse, a handwritten French message adds depth: The sender references a political election, mentions receiving a visitor named Zéphirin Vivien, and comments on a woman named Paule being sweet but superficial. He also sends greetings from Gaston, referring to a shared circle of friends. A vivid example of social correspondence among European emigrants or travelers.
Thematic appeal:
Rural labor and agriculture
Coffee production in Brazil
Women workers in early 20th century
European social networks abroad
Immigration and plantation economy
Political references (elections)
French-language diaspora correspondence
A fantastic piece for Open Class exhibits, social philately, and Latin American visual history collections.