1. Ernest Cole
by
Sharon J. Hall
Though words symbolize communication and meaning, a photograph can tell a story
with the need for little or no words. Ernest Cole, a pioneer of his time, and one of the
most influential and important photographers in South Africa, gave up his family and
homeland, to let the world know what was happening in his country. His photography
captured stories of shame, defeat, neglect, death, life and beauty.
Ernest Cole, (1940 – 1990), was a celebrated photographer who, although born in
poverty in Eersterust in Pretoria, South Africa, had a heart wrenching story to tell the
world. Cole, wanted other countries to know what it was like to be black during the
period of Apartheid, a governmental system that denied its citizens of color of their basic
human and civic rights. He became passionate to tell his story of how he was one of
many, who lived through these laws of oppression. Ernest’s story is that of racial,
political, legal and economic segregation against non-whites in South Africa. In May,
1948, after the National Party had won the general election, Apartheid was implemented
into the governmental system in South Africa, but thankfully saw its end in 1990. Ernest
Cole lived his life to show the world what he saw and experienced of suffering, anguish
and loss, not just for himself, but for the suffrage of his people. He disappeared into exile
in 1966 and as a result, was able to get his work published in the United States in his first
book named “The House of Bondage” released (June, 1967).

2. Toward the end of his life whilst in exile, Cole’s life fell apart and lost was his
photography equipment and his sense of existence, he had become a mere shadow. He
ultimately died homeless at the age of 49 in 1990. Probably, the saddest part of his death,
was that he didn’t live to see Nelson Mandella, a celebrated South African anti Apartheid
activist’s release from jail a week after Cole died. It was reported that Cole’s sister later
flew back to South Africa with her brother’s ashes on her lap.
Ernest Cole, leaves behind a legacy in the form of his pictorial records, an account of
what it was like to be black in Apartheid South Africa. His work even now, opens our
eyes and gives us a window to some of the pain of oppression and anguish he and the
people of South Africa suffered at the hands of their government. Cole, through his
magnificent black and white portraits, gives us a sense of compassion for the countless
lives that were destroyed, broken and lost. Had it not been for his bravery and passion to
tell his story through his pictures, the public would not have otherwise seen and felt his
story as effectively, had we just read mere words.
Much of Cole’s black and white photography can still be viewed in galleries around
the world. Since his death, South Africa, has released Cole’s works to be viewed by his
own people. During the prime of his short career, his photography was banned from his
country, which drove him into exile in the United States. Some of his early photography,
still lies undiscovered in South Africa. .


3. CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORKS OF
ERNEST COLE.
Born in the midst of Apartheid, in Eersterust in Pretoria, South Africa, Ernest Cole was
the first black photographer in South Africa. He later died homeless and in exile in New
York at the age of 49, just a week before Nelson Mandella’s release in 1990.
© Ernest Cole
These samples of Ernest Cole’s black and white photography are an example of his
professionalism. The black and white photography is of high aesthetic value, which
helps us to notice more of the outlines, shadows and textures. Each one of his photos
represents a thousand unspoken words that will rest in the hearts of millions forever.

4. Sources
Sources and photos courtesy of:
Eric Cole
africasacountry.comShare
gk@hasselbladfoundation.org, 0739-401 402
http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/ernest-cole
http://www.hasselbladfoundation.org/ernest-cole

5. Inspired by the photo-essays of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Cole documented
scenes of life under apartheid from 1958 to 1966. He captured everyday images, such as lines
of migrant mine workers waiting to be discharged from labor, a school child studying by
candlelight, parks and benches for "Europeans Only," young black men arrested and
handcuffed for entering cities without their passes, worshippers in their Sunday best, and
crowds crammed into claustrophobic commuter trains.
Together with Cole's own incisive and illuminating captions, these striking photographs bear
stark witness to a wide spectrum of experiences during the apartheid era.
"Ernest Cole Photographer" is the first major public presentation of Cole's work since the
publication of his book "House of Bondage" in 1967. A large majority of the images are shown
for the first time in the way Cole had originally intended —These images of apartheid are
astonishing not only for their content but also their formal beauty and narrative power.
uncropped and accompanied only by his minimal remarks. These images of apartheid are
astonishing not only for their content but also their formal beauty and narrative power.
Ernest Cole’s photography was intended to capture images of apartheid’s cruel bondage
and suffering throughout it’s era. Much of Cole’s photography style was inspired by
Henri Cartier-Bresson who was a master of his time of candid photography.

6. The cover of Ernest Cole’s book “House of Bondage” which was published in 1967.
The above picture is of Black South African men who were arrested and handcuffed for
entering cities without their passes.
a school child studying by candlelight, Scenes of life under the apartheid rule from 1958 to
1966. Cole’s photography was originally intended to be uncropped and accompanied only by
his minimal remarks. This style of photography is called photographic essays which was
originally adopted from the techniques of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who
greatly inspired Ernest Cole’s photography style and works throughout his life.

7. No room inside the train, because it was so packed, some people had to ride between cars as black South Africans were
not allowed to ride with the whites.
House of Bondage series
Source for pictures: arthrob
These images are from The House of Bondage series from Ernest Cole’s photographic essay accounts of what life was
like living in South Africa as a black person under the apartheid rule.
Ernest Cole’s photographic accounts, gives his audience a sense of deep compassion for the stories they tell. They instill
anguish, hurt and bring just a portion of the sadness and pain apartheid rule had inflicted. Yet, Cole’s images reflect
beauty art and yet more dramatization due to the aesthetics and clarity of his black and white photography.