Treinstation in Mozambique, vermoedelijk in Pessene c. 1886s

This photograph, likely taken in Pessene, Mozambique, captures a railway station, a testament to colonial ambition, by Manuel Romão Pereira. Observe the railway tracks slicing through the landscape. These lines, symbols of progress, echo the Roman roads that once crisscrossed Europe, each a testament to empire. This isn't merely infrastructure; it's a visual embodiment of power, a physical manifestation of control over land and resources. Notice the stark contrast between the modern rails and the indigenous setting. The rails are an imposition of order, an intrusion upon the organic landscape. Consider how this scene might be viewed in the collective memory of different cultures: a source of pride for some, a symbol of oppression for others. This station is a node in a network of power, an instrument shaping the destiny of people and places.