Britse soldaten seinen naar Rensburg vanaf New Zealand Hill, 14 januari 1900

This photograph captures British soldiers signaling from New Zealand Hill to Rensburg on January 14th. The soldiers stand on a rocky hill, their figures stark against the horizon. Consider the act of signaling itself. It echoes the ancient practice of conveying messages across distances, from smoke signals to semaphore flags. Here, the soldier uses modern equipment, but the underlying principle remains unchanged. This reaching out, this attempt to bridge the gap between individuals and communities, is a recurring motif in human history. Think of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, or the elaborate systems of communication developed by ancient empires. The act of communication has always carried emotional weight, a desire to connect, to share information, to assert control. These soldiers, perched on their hilltop, are not just sending a message, they are also projecting power. The photograph evokes a sense of isolation and connection, the human desire to overcome distance and exert influence across the landscape.