Reparatiewerkzaamheden aan een spoorbrug over de rivier Itanculo in Mozambique c. 1886s

This photograph by Manuel Romão Pereira captures repair work on a railway bridge over the Itanculo River in Mozambique. The image, itself a material object, offers a glimpse into the material conditions of industrial development in the late 19th century. The bridge's iron lattice framework, stark against the landscape, speaks to the global circulation of industrial materials and technologies. Notice the workers perched on the bridge, their presence highlighting the human labor required to build and maintain these infrastructures. The photograph thus directs our attention to both the grand scale of industrial projects and the everyday realities of those involved in their construction. Consider the social and economic implications of this railway. It was likely intended to facilitate resource extraction and trade, reflecting colonial power dynamics and their impact on Mozambican society. By emphasizing the materiality of both the bridge and the photograph itself, we can appreciate the complex interplay between technology, labor, and colonialism.