Bouw van de brug over de Woih ni Enang 1903 - 1913

This anonymous photograph captures the construction of a bridge over the Woih ni Enang. It’s a material intervention in both landscape and society. The image is rich with visual codes and historical associations. This photograph, probably from the Dutch East Indies, depicts not just engineering, but empire-building in action. The bridge isn't just a physical structure; it's a symbol of colonial ambition, designed to facilitate resource extraction, control trade, and impose administrative power. Note the lines of figures on the left of the bridge. It begs the question of their origin and status. Are they voluntary workers or a local workforce under colonial obligation? Understanding this image requires research into the economic and political history of the region, records of colonial engineering projects, and accounts from the local population. It serves as a reminder that art, even in documentary form, is deeply embedded in specific socio-political contexts and institutional structures.