Reproductie van een litho van een gezicht op het dorp Saltaire door J. Dale & Co. before 1876

This lithograph by Appleton & Co. depicts the village of Saltaire, a model industrial community. At first glance, we see rows of orderly buildings, but let’s consider a crucial symbol: smoke billowing from a factory chimney. Smoke, in one sense, signals industry, progress, and civilization's march forward. Yet, it also echoes the darker side of industrialization: pollution, exploitation, and the sacrifice of nature for progress. Think of the ever-present smoke in depictions of the underworld, a symbol of hidden dangers and transformation through trial. The visual weight given to this smoke prompts a profound reflection on modernity's cost. It is an industrial landscape but also a symbol of potential collective anxiety and the psychological weight of progress. This dichotomy reflects our continuous negotiation between advancement and its inherent sacrifices.