Spoorbrug bij Westervoort, 1846 1872 - 1874

This print of the Spoorbrug bij Westervoort, or railway bridge at Westervoort, was made in 1846 by an anonymous artist. It’s a lithograph, a relatively new technology at the time, which allowed for detailed images to be reproduced more easily than traditional engraving. Look at the delicate lines and subtle gradations of color. These were achieved by drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treating the stone so that ink would adhere only to the drawn areas. The print captures the bridge's solid presence and reflects the growing industrialization of the Netherlands. The bridge itself is a marvel of engineering, constructed from iron and stone, materials of the industrial revolution. Its construction would have required the labor of many skilled workers, from stone masons and ironworkers to engineers and carpenters. The print, with its precise lines and meticulous detail, celebrates human ingenuity and the transformative power of industry. It reminds us that art and technology are not separate spheres, but intertwined expressions of human creativity and ambition.