Gezicht op een vlakte met een boerderij en daarachter New Zealand Hill, de Boeren hebben hier op 14 januari een aanval uitgevoerd 1900

This anonymous photograph captures a stark view of a farm in South Africa, likely taken in early 1900, during the Second Boer War. The image provides a glimpse into the brutal conflict between the British Empire and the Afrikaner Boers. The inscription below the image tells us that the Boers mounted an attack on this site. This was a war defined by asymmetrical warfare, and the British responded with a scorched-earth policy, destroying Boer farms and interning civilians in concentration camps. Photographs such as these played a crucial role in shaping public opinion about the war, documenting the social and economic effects of colonialism. It can also be seen as a form of propaganda, justifying the British war effort. To fully understand this image, researchers could consult historical archives and photographic collections from institutions like the Imperial War Museum. By looking at the social conditions of its making, we can come to better understand its historical and political meaning.