Twee foto's van luchtpompen before 1867

These two photographs by F.W. Funckler show air pumps, scientific instruments encased under glass domes, poised to reveal the unseen forces governing our world. The glass dome, a motif we see echoed in reliquaries and bell jars throughout history, here takes on a new secular significance. Traditionally, these forms housed sacred relics or specimens, preserving them for veneration or study. Here, the air pump becomes an object of scientific inquiry. Consider how the act of enclosing, whether sacred or scientific, taps into our primal desires to understand and control the unknown. Just as a medieval saint's bones were believed to hold divine power, this air pump held the promise of unlocking nature’s secrets through experimentation. This image speaks to our collective memory, evoking a sense of wonder and the eternal human quest for knowledge. It’s a potent reminder of how our perception of the world shifts, yet our fundamental curiosity remains constant.