First landing at Lungshwy bay Possibly 1895

This photograph, titled ‘First landing at Lungshwy Bay’, comes from the Ordnance Survey Office. Considered through the lens of postcolonial theory, the image portrays a stark scene of military incursion. We see an expedition landing on a beach, a landscape that seems both barren and fraught with tension. Warships loom in the misty distance, while smaller vessels approach the shore. The figures on the beach are small, almost insignificant, against the backdrop of the imposing naval presence. The act of 'first landing' carries heavy implications of conquest and domination, marking the beginning of a colonial project with profound impacts on the local population. It prompts us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in such historical moments and the legacy of imperialism. The artist here seems to be showing the magnitude of a military operation but simultaneously captures the emotional weight and human cost of territorial expansion. It’s a powerful depiction of a moment laden with historical and cultural significance.