Locomotief 1871 - 1906

Pieter de Josselin de Jong made this drawing of a locomotive using black chalk. While undated, the drawing probably coincides with a period of rapid railway expansion in the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. The railways were a modernising force that transformed ideas about space and time. Looking at the image, we see that the train is more than a technical object, but a signifier of progress. However, it's important to consider who benefited from this progress, and how. The railway companies were major employers. Railway infrastructure also changed the face of the Dutch landscape and impacted many communities. To understand the context, we might consult municipal records, company archives, newspapers, and other historical documents. The image reminds us that art doesn't exist in a vacuum. It reflects the social and institutional conditions of its time.