Tomba Agogna 1890

Giuseppe Barberis made this engraving titled 'Tomba Agogna' some time between 1860 and 1910. The image depicts a triple arched bridge over a canal. This engraving reflects the optimism towards engineering that was typical of its time. Italy, like other European countries, was going through rapid industrialisation. New technologies promised to deliver a better quality of life for everyone, but of course, not everyone benefitted equally. We can see how the canal facilitates trade and transportation. The clean lines and rational design of the bridge speak to a belief in progress and the power of human ingenuity. However, it’s also worth considering who would have had access to these new technologies, and who might have been left behind. To better understand this image, we might consult archives of engineering projects from the period. What was the social impact of these large-scale developments? Examining the broader context can help us to understand the full implications of this seemingly straightforward image.