Entrance to a Coal Mine in the Valley of Wyoming, Pennsylvania (Entrance to a Coal Mine, Susquehanna) 1852

This pencil drawing depicts the "Entrance to a Coal Mine in the Valley of Wyoming, Pennsylvania" and was made by Thomas Addison Richards. The composition, dominated by the dark cavity of the mine entrance, evokes an immediate sense of depth. The texture is rendered by dense, layered strokes, that create a stark contrast between the rough, natural rock and the man-made railway tracks leading into the abyss. The contrast of light and shadow serves to highlight the tension between nature and industrialization, a common theme in 19th-century art that reflects the anxieties and fascinations of rapid technological advancement. The overall impression is one of somber reflection on humanity's impact on the landscape. It's a delicate balance between documentation and artistic interpretation, prompting us to consider the cultural codes and the artist's own perspective on progress and its consequences.