Treinspoor in Mozambique, mogelijk langs de oever van de Rio Incomati c. 1886s

This photograph, taken by Manuel Romão Pereira, shows a section of the Lourenço Marques railway in Mozambique, probably around the time it was built. The photograph is notable for its perspective on the construction of railroads in colonial contexts. The image reflects the enormous manual labour required, contrasting with the advanced engineering of the railway line. The railway is precisely laid using mass-produced iron rails and wooden sleepers; the construction of it involved picks and shovels to hack the railway's path through the landscape. The photograph thus captures the intersection of industrial progress and human effort. The making of the railroad contrasts sharply with the seemingly untouched landscape it traverses. This invites us to reflect on the relationship between technological advancement and the exploitation of natural resources, as well as of human labor. Seeing both together allows us to consider the social and economic implications of such infrastructural projects.