Ernest Cole: Black Ingenuity

This story includes never-before-seen photographs of Black creative expression and cultural activity taking place under apartheid. Ernest Cole had selected images for this section and titled it, “Black Ingenuity,” though it was never published in the original edition of House of Bondage. 

"Although we do not know why he abandoned plans to include the chapter, he gathered the contact sheets together into a similar grouping to the other chapters and marked a number of images for inclusion — a selection of which are included here."

- James Sanders, Black Ingenuity, House of Bondage (Aperture) 2022, p. 206

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.