Zijaanzicht van een opstelling met een rad 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this undated drawing, using pen and ink on paper. It depicts a rather enigmatic arrangement with a wheel. Weissenbruch’s delicate lines meticulously render a scene dominated by complex wooden machinery. A water wheel takes center stage, its presence evoking the industrial processes driving 19th-century society. The image celebrates human ingenuity, but also hints at the repetitive, relentless nature of factory labor. Notice the stairs leading up to the wheel; one can imagine workers ascending these steps daily, feeding materials into the system. The artist's choice of pen and ink, a traditional medium, contrasts sharply with the modernity of the subject matter, highlighting the tension between handcraft and industrialization. The overall effect prompts us to reflect on the human cost of progress and the changing relationship between people and machines.