[Mining Site Chincha Islands] 1860s - 1870s

This is José Negretti’s photograph of the Mining Site on the Chincha Islands. The image shows the landscape under the pressure of industrialization in Peru, sometime between 1840 and 1880. The Chincha Islands, off the coast of Peru, were once a vital source of guano, a highly effective fertilizer. This photograph captures not just a landscape, but a moment in economic history, one that fueled agricultural booms in Europe and North America. The presence of ships offshore reminds us of the global trade networks that the guano industry sustained. Meanwhile the mining operation hints at the drastic alterations of landscapes driven by international commerce. To fully appreciate this image, one needs to delve into the archives of economic history and study the complex interplay of environmental resources, labor practices, and global trade. It is through the lens of history that we come to appreciate the full implications of this photograph.