Sigsbee-sondeermachine op de George S. Blake before 1880

Curator: This is an engraving titled "Sigsbee-sondeermachine op de George S. Blake," created before 1880 by an anonymous artist. Editor: My initial reaction is this has a documentary, almost forensic feel. It presents the machine in a way that seems very factual. It’s detailed and imposing, very mechanical, and emphasizes the weight of technology. Curator: What interests me immediately is the nature of an engraving as the medium, which necessitates careful labor. Engravings, like the machinery they often depict, involved precision and process. How does this process impact what we know of this work, what narratives can the artist push by choosing this medium? Editor: Absolutely. The act of rendering technology using an older, more manual process creates a compelling tension, especially thinking about industrial progress during this period and the rise of modernity as a project of human development and control. There’s an implied relationship of control over the sea through technology that can't be missed, speaking to labor both in creating this artwork and using the depicted equipment. Who's labor is recognized? What kinds are hidden? Curator: The scale of the machine is what first captures my attention. Think about the materials involved—all the iron, the gears, the sheer manpower to operate and build it, that all takes natural materials and exploited resources. It all funnels down into labor practices in mining and industrial development that continue to be contested, still to this day. Editor: It’s quite the contrast when framed by oceanic study as the aim. It calls to mind environmental impact and exploitation under the guise of scientific exploration and development. We must consider whose stories get left out in that kind of 'progress narrative'. Curator: By studying the art-making process and acknowledging the historical and environmental costs of labor and materials, it becomes easier to interrogate the artwork's social impact. Editor: I agree. By juxtaposing historical context and material concerns, this engraving, which might seem straightforward, unfolds a dense narrative ripe for reflection, forcing a critical perspective of advancement and what it entails.