Gezicht op de galerij met machines op de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1885 in Antwerpen before 1885

This anonymous print from 1885 documents the Machinery Gallery at the Antwerp World Exposition. The lithographic process used to create it -- printing from a flat stone or metal plate -- was a relatively new technology at the time, perfectly suited to capturing the cutting-edge industrial forms on display. The print emphasizes the scale and complexity of the machines. Notice the intricate details of the engines, boilers, and other equipment, all rendered with precision. The artist's focus on these technological marvels reflects the era's fascination with progress, and faith in manufacturing, construction and engineering. But consider also the social context: world expositions were explicitly about competition. They were celebrations of the industrial revolution, certainly, but also of the capitalist system, a means of displaying economic power. This print is not just a depiction of machines; it's a document of labor, politics, and consumption. Appreciating its historical context allows us to understand how such imagery shaped contemporary attitudes toward progress and its costs.