Voorstelling van soldaten aan het front bij de Modderrivier in Zuid-Afrika 1900

This stereograph card, published around 1901, shows soldiers at the front during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It offers a window into the visual culture surrounding colonial conflict at the turn of the century. The image presents a line of soldiers, presumably British, in a defensive position along the Modder River. It’s an image produced for mass consumption, manufactured by Underwood & Underwood. This company specialized in stereoscopic images, intended to create a 3D effect when viewed through a special device. The popularity of these images speaks to a broader public fascination with distant lands and imperial exploits. Consider the politics of such imagery. While seemingly objective, it inevitably frames the conflict from a particular viewpoint, shaping public opinion and normalizing colonial violence. Further research into the archives of Underwood & Underwood, as well as period publications, would reveal the extent to which these images were used to bolster support for the British Empire. The meaning of this seemingly simple photograph is contingent on its social and institutional context.