Stoomboot op de Rijn aan de kade c. 1895 - 1905

David Vermeulen captured this photograph of a steamboat on the Rhine at the quay, documenting an era of burgeoning industrialization and its profound impact on both landscape and society. The image offers a glimpse into the realities of labor during that period. We might wonder, what was it like to work on these boats? How did the burgeoning steamboat industry shape the identities and experiences of the working class? The steamboat itself becomes a symbol of progress, but also of the complex social dynamics inherent in technological advancement. The river, once a source of sustenance and natural beauty, now serves as a conduit for commerce, forever altering the relationship between humanity and the environment. Ultimately, the photograph invites us to reflect on the human cost of progress, and to consider the legacy of industrialization in shaping the world we inhabit today.