Factory and Bridge Sketches 

These "Factory and Bridge Sketches" were created by Donald Carlisle Greason, using pen and ink on paper. Born in 1897, Greason belonged to a generation witnessing the rapid industrialization and urbanization of America. His sketches capture the stark, angular forms of factories and bridges, emblematic of progress, while simultaneously reflecting the alienation that can accompany such transformation. Notice the lack of human figures, replaced by cold, looming structures. It seems to ask; where do people fit within this mechanized landscape? The sketches resonate with a sense of both awe and unease, mirroring the complex relationship society has with industrial development. Are these factories and bridges, symbols of connectivity, or imposing barriers? The emotional tension in Greason's work invites us to consider the human cost of progress, and the shifting landscape of identity in an industrial age.