Railroad Platter 1939

Ralph Atkinson created this Railroad Platter, and within it we see motifs of transportation and nature. The train symbolizes progress, the conquering of distance, and the relentless march of time. Observe how the train here mirrors the same spirit found in ancient Roman triumphal arches, celebrating human achievement, now translated into the modern era. The leaves bordering the platter evoke classical laurel wreaths, symbols of victory and eternity. But what victory does this train celebrate? Perhaps the industrial revolution, the shift in our relationship with nature, or simply the human desire to move, to explore, to connect. The image carries with it the cultural memory of displacement and ambition. It represents both the allure of progress and a sense of longing. Much like the human psyche, it reveals a deep-seated tension between our dreams for the future and our connection to the past.