Munich Factory 

Walter Shirlaw created "Munich Factory" using graphite on paper. Shirlaw, as an American artist trained in Munich, captures a factory scene nestled amongst a copse of trees. During the late 19th century, there was an immense shift in society as rural environments gave way to urban factories. Shirlaw’s work often depicted the everyday life of the working class, reflecting a broader artistic interest in representing the realities of industrialization. The drawing invites us to contemplate the relationship between industry and nature. It asks: what is gained, and what is lost, when factories encroach upon the natural landscape? This image is a quiet yet powerful commentary on the costs of progress, both for the environment and for the human spirit.