Gezicht op een pontonbrug over de Modderrivier in Zuid-Afrika 1900

This stereograph, published around 1901, depicts a pontoon bridge of timber and canvas over the Modder River in South Africa. Likely it was captured by a commercial photography studio, and sold as a leisure item. The image speaks volumes about labor, infrastructure, and the British Empire’s ambitions. Look closely at the image. The bridge, hastily constructed by Royal Engineers, is made of boats, planks and rope - the basic technology of bridging. This image shows the process of industrial capitalism in action. Royal engineers were a vital instrument of empire, building infrastructure to support the movement of troops and resources. Laborers likely felled trees, hauled timber, and assembled boats under harsh conditions. The stereograph itself is also a product of industrial processes. Mass-produced and widely distributed, these images brought distant lands into Victorian homes, fueling curiosity and reinforcing colonial power. This photograph prompts us to consider the relationship between materials, labor, and the construction of empire. It invites us to look beyond the picturesque and acknowledge the social and economic forces at play.