Railway Station in Kayes 1889

This wood engraving, "Railway Station in Kayes," by Edouard Riou depicts a scene of a small train pulling into a station in Kayes, Mali. The artwork, created in 1889, captures the arrival of the train, with passengers disembarking and a crowd of people gathered around the platform. The engraving is detailed, capturing the construction of the station, the people and their clothing, and the train itself, highlighting the impact of industrialization on Africa. Riou was a prominent French illustrator and artist, known for his work on travel narratives and colonial explorations. The scene is a testament to the growing influence of technology on everyday life in the late 19th century.