Onderdelen van een stoomlocomotief before 1871

George Gardner Rockwood created this photographic print of 'Onderdelen van een stoomlocomotief,' or 'Parts of a Steam Locomotive,' at an unknown date. Rockwood was a portrait photographer in New York, who also dabbled in landscape photography, and images of industrial equipment. During the 19th century, steam locomotives were not just machines; they were symbols of progress, connecting distant communities, and transforming economies. Yet, the rise of industry also deepened existing class divides, and reshaped labor practices. As technology advanced, it brought both opportunity and displacement, altering the fabric of daily life for many. Here, Rockwood invites us to consider the individual components that power these changes. The focus is drawn away from the grand narrative of industrial advancement, and shifted towards the physical elements that make such progress possible. We might pause and think of the workers behind the scenes, those whose labor physically brought these machines into being. It is a reminder that technological advancement is always rooted in human effort and experience.