['Sukkur Bridge-India', 'Niagara cantilever bridge'] before 1890

This photographic print presents the Sukkur Bridge in India alongside the Niagara Cantilever Bridge. Though the photographer remains anonymous, the images speak volumes about the era of industrialization and colonialism. During this period, engineering feats like these bridges symbolized progress and the subjugation of nature. But they also tell a story of colonial exploitation. The Sukkur Bridge, built under British rule, facilitated the extraction of resources from India, reinforcing colonial power structures. The image invites us to reflect on the labor, resources, and social disruptions involved in constructing these monuments of progress. Consider how the scale of these bridges dwarfs the surrounding landscapes, mirroring the imbalance of power between colonizers and colonized. These bridges physically connected distant lands, but at what cost? The emotional weight of this history is embedded in the silent black and white image, urging us to confront the complex legacies of engineering and empire.