Horizontorium 1832

This print, titled ‘Horizontorium’, was made by John Jesse Barker, using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. The lithographic technique allows for a wide range of tonal variations to be achieved, mimicking the look of a pencil or ink drawing. The medium is intrinsically tied to mass production, and the growth of capitalism. The image presents an impossible architectural structure: a vertiginous tower, defying the rules of perspective. It looks as though it might be a factory or tenement. The precision of line and the subtle gradations of shading give the structure a sense of depth and volume, emphasizing the sheer amount of work involved in creating such a detailed rendering. Lithography enabled the wide distribution of images and ideas, and it also facilitated a kind of fantasy. The image hints at the social complexities and tensions inherent in a rapidly industrializing world. The Horizontorium is an artistic creation, but it’s also a product of its time.