Gezicht op Crystal Palace, te Londen 1851 - 1885

This print shows the Crystal Palace in London, designed for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The palace itself is the dominant symbol here: a massive glass and iron structure, evoking a sense of industrial progress and modernity. The Crystal Palace, with its repeating arches, recalls the Roman aqueducts, symbols of engineering prowess. Yet, here the glass transforms the heavy stone of antiquity into something light, airy, and modern. Think of the Renaissance revival of classical forms, now reborn in the Industrial Age. But consider also the Tower of Babel, a monument to human ambition. Has progress become another form of hubris? The Crystal Palace, a testament to human ingenuity, mirrors the aspirations and anxieties of its time. It's a fragile beauty, reflecting the human spirit's perpetual striving for progress.