Sculptuur van een geboeide vrouw door Hiram Powers, tentoongesteld op de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen 1851

Here is the script: Hiram Powers’ marble sculpture, “Greek Slave”, was exhibited at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. Carved from marble, a material prized for its purity and ability to capture light, the sculpture uses the neoclassical aesthetic of its time. Consider the process: extracting marble from quarries, transporting it, and the skilled labor involved in carving such a detailed figure. The smoothness of the marble contrasts with the harsh reality of the subject matter. The chains, though delicate in appearance, remind us of the global issue of slavery. “Greek Slave” achieved fame during a period when debates about abolition were intensifying. The Great Exhibition itself was a celebration of industrial progress, yet the sculpture served as a poignant reminder of human suffering and the dark underbelly of economic expansion. It asks us to confront the moral implications of our material culture.