On the Thames at Hammersmith 1831 - 1841

John Varley captured this scene on the Thames at Hammersmith with watercolor on paper. Note how the soaring chimney, a symbol of industrial progress, rises amidst the pastoral scene, juxtaposed with the meandering river. This motif of industrialization encroaching on nature echoes throughout art history, from Turner's fiery depictions of steam trains to Friedrich's solitary wanderers contemplating nature's grandeur. The chimney, a modern obelisk, recalls ancient symbols of power and aspiration, yet its smoke-belching form also hints at the darker, unconscious anxieties of modernity: pollution, alienation, and the loss of innocence. Consider how these symbols have resurfaced in contemporary art, reflecting our ongoing dialogue with technology and its impact on the environment, reminding us of the cyclical nature of cultural memory and the enduring power of images to evoke complex emotions and ideas across time.