Chicago Stock Exchange Building, 30 North La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois: Frieze Panel from an Elevator Assembly 1893 - 1894

This is a frieze panel from an elevator assembly, made by Adler and Sullivan, Architects, for the Chicago Stock Exchange Building. In late 19th-century America, architecture wasn't just about building; it was a statement. Firms like Adler & Sullivan infused buildings with meaning through ornamentation. This panel, with its intricate designs, reflects the wealth and power concentrated in institutions like the Stock Exchange. Made in Chicago, the panel's design speaks to the city's rapid growth and industrial might. We can look at the visual codes, the geometric patterns mixed with organic motifs, as a metaphor for a society trying to reconcile nature and industry. The Stock Exchange itself was more than a place of finance, it was a cultural symbol. Studying architectural drawings, period photographs, and writings about Chicago at the time helps us interpret the panel. Its story isn't just about art, but about how society shapes our built environment and how, in turn, that environment shapes us.