Spoorbrug in de Anaikloof op Sumatra c. 1900 - 1920

This is a photograph of the railway bridge in the Anai Gorge in Sumatra, taken by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis. The image is captured through the lens of early photographic processes, using techniques that were still relatively new at the time. The bridge is the focal point, a structure of iron and steel that cuts across the landscape. Its construction is a testament to human engineering, representing industrial progress and colonial ambition. The photograph captures not only the physical presence of the bridge but also its impact on the environment. The contrast between the man-made structure and the natural surroundings highlights the relationship between industrialization and the natural world. The very act of photographing was embedded with social and cultural significance, as it became a tool for documentation, exploration, and the assertion of power.