High Iron, Guilford, Connecticut 1990

Here we see James Welling's gelatin silver print, "High Iron, Guilford, Connecticut." The title refers to the railroad tracks above the dense forest, which immediately evokes a feeling of nature overshadowed by industrial progress. The tracks themselves can be interpreted as a symbol of modernity’s relentless march, reminiscent of the Roman roads, once emblems of power and reach. Across time, the motif of elevated pathways, has recurred in art and architecture from aqueducts to bridges. Each iteration reflects humanity's attempt to assert dominion over the landscape. The railway, as a symbol, has evolved. Originally representing progress and connectivity, in the 20th century, it took on more sinister connotations, as a means of deportation. In Welling’s photograph, the tracks evoke a sense of unease, a subtle hint of this collective anxiety. The psychological weight of this industrial intrusion is palpable, prompting us to reflect on our complex relationship with progress.