Stock Yards, Chicago 1910

Curator: Here we have Joseph Pennell's "Stock Yards, Chicago." Pennell, born in 1857, captured scenes of industrial America, and this print offers a glimpse into Chicago's meatpacking district. Editor: It's bleak, isn't it? Like a dusty, sepia-toned nightmare of fences and distant smokestacks. I can almost smell it, that mix of sweat and… well, you know. Curator: Pennell wasn't just documenting; he was participating in a broader dialogue about industry and its impact on American life. The Yards, as they were known, were a symbol of both progress and exploitation. Editor: Exploitation, definitely. Look at the scale, the sheer number of animals and people crammed into this space. It feels dehumanizing, impersonal. Even the sky looks heavy. Curator: Pennell's stark style, almost like a mechanical drawing, emphasizes the regimentation and scale of the industry. It's a powerful statement, even today. Editor: A statement, yes, but also a lament, perhaps? It's haunting to consider how little has changed, how we’re still grappling with these issues of industrial ethics.