Artwork
Midway in Jugdalluck
Midway in Jugdalluck is a photography by the Impressionist artist John Burke. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The technology back then couldn’t freeze fast action, so he focused on the land and the people moving through it.
You see a black-and-white photo of a rocky pass with British soldiers marching through it.
This isn’t a battle scene—it’s the quiet before or after. John Burke was one of the first photographers to document war this way. The technology back then couldn’t freeze fast action, so he focused on the land and the people moving through it. The photo feels still, but the history it holds isn’t.
If you want to see more of Burke’s work, look up John Burke (Irish, 1845–1915).
Overview
Midway in Jugdalluck is a black‑and‑white photograph taken during the Second Anglo‑Afghan War (1878–1880). The image shows a rugged mountain pass traversed by British troops, capturing a moment of stillness amid the broader conflict.
Subject & Meaning
The picture does not depict combat but rather the landscape and movement of soldiers through a strategic route. It reflects the war’s logistical dimensions, emphasizing the terrain that shaped military operations and the presence of British forces in Afghanistan.
Technique & Style
Captured by John Burke, one of the earliest photographers to work extensively in Afghanistan, the image relies on the era’s slow photographic processes, which precluded action shots. Consequently, Burke’s work focuses on static scenes—landscapes, camps, and portraiture—providing a documentary rather than dramatic visual record.
History & Provenance
John Burke (1845–1915), an Irish photographer, was the principal visual chronicler of the Second Anglo‑Afghan War. His photographs were produced using wet‑plate collodion techniques, the standard of the time, and were later distributed as albumen prints for military and public audiences.
Context
During the late 19th century, photography began to accompany military campaigns, offering a new form of visual evidence. Burke’s images, including this pass, contributed to contemporary understandings of the war’s geography and the British expeditionary presence in the region.
Artist & collection
