Soldaten van het Camel Corps tijdens de Mahdi-opstand in Soedan 1881 - 1899

This photograph of soldiers from the Camel Corps during the Mahdist War in Sudan was taken by Antonio Beato, though we don't know exactly when. Beato would have used a large format camera and glass plate negatives, coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. This was a painstaking, manual process, requiring significant technical skill. And remember, he was doing this under harsh conditions in Sudan. The final print, made using chemical developing agents, is a testament to the labor involved, both Beato's and that of his subjects. Consider the composition: the soldiers and camels are arranged in a seemingly endless line. Each one is an individual, but together they represent a powerful, almost mechanical force, which echoes the colonial project. The photograph’s muted tones and flat perspective give the scene a feeling of stark reality. Photography at this time served as both a record and a tool of empire. Ultimately, this photograph is more than just an image; it's a document of a specific time, place, and power dynamic, captured through a complex and demanding material process.