Kudde runderen die de Britten hebben buitgemaakt op de Boeren bij de Modderrivier, Zuid-Afrika 1901

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, taken in 1901, is titled "Herd of cattle captured by the British from the Boers near the Modder River, South Africa." Looking at the photo, I'm immediately struck by how ordinary it seems, given the historical context. Just a lot of cows crossing a river. What am I missing? How should we interpret this? Curator: This image functions as a record, but we should consider how its meaning is constructed and disseminated. It’s presented as a stereo card, meant for mass consumption. Knowing it was published by Underwood & Underwood, a large publishing house, makes me wonder, who was the intended audience? And what political narrative were they consuming through this seemingly simple photograph? Editor: I suppose it would depend on whether you were British or a Boer! What kind of narrative could it support? Curator: Perhaps for a British audience, it visually reinforces a sense of control and triumph. Cattle represented resources, and the act of seizing them would symbolize dominance over the Boer population. For other audiences, it might reinforce an image of Britain as a global power, flexing its military and economic muscle. Editor: So it’s less about the individual animals and more about what their capture represents in this power dynamic. I hadn’t considered it in terms of image politics; I was stuck on the seemingly mundane quality of the scene. Curator: Exactly. And we need to remember how this photo participated in constructing a particular, perhaps biased, understanding of the conflict for those far removed from the actual events. Editor: This has certainly reframed how I see photojournalism from that era. It’s a good reminder to dig deeper than just the surface. Curator: Agreed. Considering the socio-political implications broadens our appreciation of the image’s enduring impact.