Standard Oil, Staten Island 1909

Joseph Pennell created “Standard Oil, Staten Island” as an etching in 1908. It captures a landscape dominated by the industrial presence of Standard Oil. Pennell, who aligned himself with the aesthetics of industrialization, presents a complex image. The belching smokestacks and sprawling infrastructure speak to an era of unprecedented economic expansion, while the landscape is consumed by the effects of the industrial revolution. This reality raises questions about the environmental and social costs of progress. Whose lives and lands are sacrificed in the name of industry? What are the long term implications of our dependence on fossil fuels? This print invites us to reflect on the complicated legacy of industrialization. As you consider Pennell's depiction of Staten Island, think about the past, present, and future of our relationship with industry. What do we gain, what do we lose, and who bears the burden of these choices?