['Sheathing No. 4 caisson-capsized', 'Raising caisson'] 1885

This anonymous photograph shows the engineering of a caisson, likely taken in the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century. These images tell us about the rapid industrialization of the time, and how technology and engineering became powerful forces shaping the landscape and the economy. The caisson, a watertight structure used for underwater construction, represents the ambition to conquer natural obstacles. This image uses visual codes of progress, with its emphasis on technology, industry, and construction. But we should also ask ourselves about the social conditions of the time. Who were the workers who built these structures? What were their working conditions like? What impact did these projects have on the environment and local communities? Understanding this image requires archival research into engineering projects of the time, and a consideration of the social and environmental consequences of industrial progress.