Ziekenzaal met gewonden nabij de Oranjerivier, Zuid-Afrika 1900

This stereoscopic image shows a ward with wounded soldiers near the Orange River in South Africa and was made around 1900 by an anonymous photographer. The image offers a troubling view into the realities of the Second Boer War, a conflict emblematic of British colonial ambitions clashing with the independence movements of the Afrikaner population. At first glance, the nurses, in their starched white uniforms, evoke a sense of order and care amidst the chaos of war. Yet, this very order underscores the stark gender roles of the time, with women relegated to caregiving positions while men occupy the battlefield. The photograph also serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of imperialism, bearing witness to the bodies scarred by a war waged over land and resources. Here, the personal and political collide, inviting us to reflect on the complex interplay between identity, nation, and the far-reaching consequences of conflict.