Landschap rond Rensburg in Zuid-Afrika 1900

This stereoscopic image captures the landscape around Rensburg in South Africa and was produced by Underwood & Underwood. Observe the motif of the road etched into the terrain, stretching into the distant mountains. Roads, historically, aren't just routes of passage; they're symbols of human will imposed on nature, a path carved through the unknown. This image depicts a land in the wake of conflict. Roads, in this context, evoke the endless Roman roads, initially built for conquest and control. Consider how conflict irrevocably changes a landscape and is embedded in the collective memory of its inhabitants. A road can also be a metaphor for the paths we choose, laden with the weight of historical conflict and the psychological imprints of generations. What we see is not just a road, but an enduring symbol, shifting through time, resurfacing with new meanings in the theater of human history.