Constructies in de East Pool Mine te Cornwall c. 1893

This photograph by John Charles Burrow captures the interior of the East Pool Mine in Cornwall, immortalizing the grueling labor within. Observe the miners, illuminated against the cavernous dark. They wield their tools with what appears to be a Promethean gesture, wresting resources from the earth. Mining has historically been associated with themes of extraction, transformation, and even the alchemical pursuit of turning base metals into gold. The motif of the underworld surfaces, a site of hidden treasures and perilous journeys. One recalls ancient myths of gods dwelling in subterranean realms, controlling the wealth of the earth. Consider the endless depictions of the Greek god Hades who reigns over the realm of the dead, guarding all that the soil holds. The act of mining, therefore, resonates with our collective memories of seeking what is hidden and of confronting elemental forces. The photograph reveals the persistent human drive to penetrate the unknown, both materially and psychologically.