Model of a Four-Blade Propeller 1847

Petrus van der Loo created this model propeller, likely in the Netherlands, using wood. He has taken what was a cutting-edge technology, and rendered it in a decidedly low-tech material. The wood is carefully shaped, showing a good understanding of aerodynamics; each of the four blades is precisely angled to catch the wind. But even if this model were scaled up, it could never actually function. Wood simply lacks the tensile strength. This inherent limitation is part of the piece’s message. Van der Loo’s propeller speaks to the rapid industrialization of the 19th century. The emerging technologies, often pursued at great human cost, promised so much but often fell short. By crafting a non-functional propeller from wood, the artist invites us to consider the relationship between progress and materiality, contrasting the sleek efficiency of industrial design with the handmade quality of craft traditions. The object offers a tangible lens through which to examine the evolving landscape of labor, technology, and societal transformation.