Spoor binnen de post Oleh-leh west c. 1891 - 1894

A. Kaulfuss captured this image of the ‘Spoor binnen de post Oleh-leh west’—or ‘Tracks within the post office Oleh-leh west’—with photography. The railway tracks immediately catch the eye, not just as a means of transport, but also as potent symbols of progress, industry, and the ever-changing landscape. But what else do they represent? These lines of iron can be seen as arteries, spreading ideas and commerce, their appearance in various forms throughout history reflect mankind's persistent need to connect. Consider these parallel lines, which can also bring to mind the ‘axis mundi’ which appears in many traditions. This symbolizes a connection between the earthly and the divine. Images like these can evoke intense feelings—the excitement of connectivity, the anxiety of intrusion, and the longing for the familiar among the waves of change. This is a cultural symbol of transformation, capturing both the promise and the underlying tension of a world in flux.