Fotoreproductie van Eden Vale in Waltham door Jonathan W. Edes before 1879

This photographic reproduction depicts “Eden Vale in Waltham,” taken by Thomas R. Lewis in 1845 after an engraving from 1793. The image illustrates the Massachusetts landscape alongside burgeoning industrial development. Looking at this image, we must consider its public role. The presence of both natural beauty and industrial progress suggests a narrative of harmonious coexistence, idealizing the social and economic changes in late 18th-century America. Visual codes emphasize the pastoral scene—sheep graze by the river—but the inclusion of mills and factories, demonstrates the cultural shift towards valuing industry and commerce. Understanding the social conditions that shaped this artwork involves considering the rise of industrial capitalism in America and the role of institutions like the Boston Manufacturing Company. This image likely served to promote a specific vision of progress, one that aligned with the economic interests of the time. By looking into the historical records of the Massachusetts Magazine, we can better understand the cultural and institutional contexts that gave rise to this image.