Spoortrein 1832 - 1850

Theodorus Johannes Wijnhoven-Hendriksen made this print called Spoortrein, or ‘speed train,’ in Rotterdam, likely in the mid-19th century. It depicts a train carrying a strange cargo: people, wild animals, and a mound that perhaps represents agricultural produce. The idea of a train carrying exotic animals speaks to the era's obsession with exploration and classification of the natural world. The train itself, emblazoned with ‘De Snelheid’ or ‘The Speed’ represents industrial progress. But the image also invites us to reflect on the social impact of these rapid changes. Who benefited from this progress, and at what cost? Wijnhoven-Hendriksen was a book, plate and lithographic printer on Rotterdam’s Hoogstraat. Considering the location of his business, could this be an advertisement? Rotterdam was, and still is, a major port city and logistical hub. Is this print an aspirational projection of trade and global exchange? To understand the image more fully, one could research the history of Dutch colonialism and its impact on both human and animal populations. The print invites us to consider how technological advancements are intertwined with social and ecological transformations.