My primary interest as a photo historian is in historical South African photographs from before 1915, but photographs from before the 1960s are not totally excluded from my research interest.
Most images curated in the Hardijzer Photographic Research Collection (HPRC) are, therefore, more than 65 years old with some as old as 175 years.
‘Geomotional’ is a remarkable and beautifully illustrated exploration of – as the sub-title says – ‘Geometric art, past and present’. The book, which has us journey through images, words, poetry and song, and gives account of a ‘performance-installation’, is compiled by Mary Elizabeth Lange, who is prolific in her writings on Indigenous art and story, and various intersections with heritage.
On 3 June 1900 a British column of 4,500 horsemen under Lieutenant General John French were advancing to occupy Pretoria. On this spot they were ambushed by a Boer commando led by General Sarel du Toit. The narrow Kalkheuwel Pass (now the R512) prevented guns and reinforcements from moving to the front line. Skirmishes continued all night.
