H. T. De La Beche (1796-1855) was the first director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. He inherited Halse Hall, a sugar plantation in Clarendon, Jamaica, from his father. In 1824, he visited and wrote a 63-page pamphlet titled “Notes on the Present Condition of Negroes in Jamaica,” where he described an idealized version of plantation life, highlighting his supposed benevolence compared to other enslavers and arguing for amelioration (rather than abolition).

The print serves as the pamphlet's frontispiece, depicting enslaved men and women cutting sugar canes with a relaxed demeanor. This portrayal obscures the strenuous, grueling, and often deadly nature of the labor, reinforcing De La Beche’s sanitized depiction of slavery. Most figures, except for the man and woman in the foreground and the overseer on the left, appear shorter than the sugar canes. Their uniforms are untattered and rendered in light blue and white, blending into the natural landscape. The land, crops, and people are depicted as property. The meticulous neatness and cool color palette cater to British sensibilities, masking the harsh reality of forced labor under the oppressive Caribbean sun.