Onderdelen van een stoomlocomotief before 1871

This photograph, “Onderdelen van een stoomlocomotief”, by George Gardner Rockwood, captures the stark beauty of industrial components. Notice the wheel: a universal symbol of cyclical movement and progress, resonating deeply with humanity's primal understanding of time and destiny. The wheel is not merely a mechanical element; it echoes across history, from ancient sun-worshipping cults to the concept of Fortuna's Wheel. Think of the ship's wheel in seafaring traditions, guiding vessels through treacherous waters, or the intricate mandalas in Eastern spirituality, representing the cosmos. The wheel reminds us of life's cyclical nature, a constant return and renewal. The psychological allure of the wheel lies in its suggestion of control and direction. It is an emotional promise that despite the chaos of existence, we can steer our course. In Rockwood’s locomotive parts, the wheel stands as a potent emblem of human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of progress, forever turning, forever changing.