['Panmure-East London', 'Beaufort West-Railway camps and terminus'] before 1880

Sam Alexander captured these photographs, 'Panmure-East London' and 'Beaufort West-Railway camps and terminus', to document his experience with colonial settlement. The imagery centers around landscapes dotted with modest settlements, evoking a sense of both promise and isolation. The motif of the 'settlement on the horizon' bears a potent symbolic weight. It echoes the "distant city" archetype—a symbol of aspiration and civilization, yet it also harbors the anxiety of the unknown, much like in Renaissance landscape paintings where distant cities symbolize human potential set against the vastness of nature. This duality taps into our collective memory, resonating with subconscious longings and fears tied to settlement and expansion. Such images, simple as they may seem, become powerful carriers of cultural narratives. They reflect the hopes, ambitions, and inherent tensions of colonial endeavors, engaging viewers on a deep, psychological level. The non-linear journey of this symbol continues, its meaning shifting yet ever-present in our understanding of human history.