Spoorbrug in Mozambique c. 1886s

This photograph of a bridge in Mozambique was created by Manuel Romão Pereira, sometime in the later 19th century. It's captioned as part of the 'Caminho de ferro de Lourenço Marques,' – the Lourenço Marques railway. This is not simply a landscape, but a document of Portuguese colonial infrastructure. The railway line was a key project of Portugal’s empire, connecting the port city of Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, with the interior. The image presents the bridge as a symbol of progress, of engineering prowess. But it also speaks to the exploitation of resources and labor that enabled such projects. To truly understand this image, we need to dig into archives and historical records. What were the economic drivers behind this railway? Who built it, and under what conditions? These are the questions that help us to understand the politics of this photograph.