Lord Kitchener (Horatio Herbert Kitchener) en Generaal Pole-Carew (Sir Reginald Pole-Carew) op het treinstation van Pretoria 1901

This stereoscopic image made in June 1901, likely by the firm Underwood & Underwood, depicts Lord Kitchener and General Pole-Carew at the Pretoria train station in South Africa. It encapsulates the visual codes of British colonial power during the Second Boer War. The composition places the two figures, Kitchener, the taller of the two, in the foreground. The strong light emphasizes the two men in uniform, symbols of military authority and imperial might. Behind them, the other soldiers are in the shade, a reminder of the disparity between leaders and those they command. The photograph was made for a Western audience, offering a glimpse into the British Empire's operations abroad. Such images, mass-produced and widely distributed, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and shoring up popular support for colonial ventures. To understand its full impact, we need to consider the historical context, studying military records, newspaper accounts, and personal letters from the time. Only then can we understand how this image functioned as a tool of empire.