In 1877, Mexican printmaker Castro created a lavish volume of 25 color prints commemorating the recently completed Mexican Railway. Formally inaugurated in 1873, the line connected Veracruz to Mexico City and culminated more than 40 years of planning, preparation, and construction. Castro’s prints celebrate this landmark achievement by narrating an imagined journey along the line. Lush, vibrantly colored landscapes call attention to notable bridges, cities, and scenic landmarks, while an accompanying essay, written by Antonio García Cubas, a Mexican writer and geographer, praises the line for its scenic beauty and modern infrastructure.

Puente del Atoyac portrays an iron lattice bridge spanning the Atoyac River east of Mexico City, a bridge that García Cubas described as “one of the most attractive of the whole route.” Castro’s print juxtaposes the rugged terrain with the smooth horizontal line of the bridge, highlighting how the railroad transformed the experience of travel within the region.

—Text taken from the Carter Handbook (2023)