Ernest Cole: The Mines

In 1886 gold was found in what became Johannesburg. “The coming of gold brought the industrial revolution to South Africa. In a short space of time, South Africa was transformed from a land economy, in which people lived and worked on the land, to an industrial capitalist society.” (Gold and Workers, Ravan Press, p.1). At the time of publishing, the gold mining industry accounted for 70% of the world’s supply.

“The work of mining the gold – and three tons of earth from shafts two miles deep must be sifted to yield one ounce – falls entirely to Africans. Labor for the mines works under contract and is recruited in back-country tribal areas by mining agents. Some come from Lesotho, Botswana, (formerly Basutoland and Bechuanaland), others from far away as Zambia and Angola.” - House of Bondage

Ernest Cole's influential 1967 photobook, House of Bondage, captured the everyday hardship faced by Black South Africans during apartheid. A new edition of this pivotal book published by Aperture in 2022, preserves Cole's original writings and images, and includes contemporary perspectives on his life and lasting impact.

This digitization of Ernest Cole's archives, along with his first-person accounts, offers the opportunity to appreciate and comprehend the work of one of South Africa’s most significant photographers. This accessible digital collection makes his legacy available for educational purposes, academic study, and research, effectively integrating Cole's contributions into the global visual heritage.

Read more about Ernest Cole’s biography in the title story, Ernest Cole Archives: House of Bondage.