An Iron Foundry, Madeley Wood, Coalbrookdale c. 1786 - 1800

Curator: Philip James De Loutherbourg's "An Iron Foundry, Madeley Wood, Coalbrookdale" really strikes me as the beginning of a new era. Editor: It's stark, isn't it? Almost haunted. You see those looming chimneys, but there's also this vulnerability in the sketch-like quality, like a premonition. Curator: Absolutely. De Loutherbourg, born in 1740, captures a pivotal moment in industrial history, reflecting the changing social and economic landscape of England. Editor: It's a whisper of metal and progress, sketched onto something so small, just 80 x 125 mm. I imagine him, sketchbook in hand, trying to capture this new, raw power. Curator: The image is also interesting when we consider the politics of imagery at this time and how industrialization was changing Britain. Editor: There's a strange beauty in that clash, the delicate lines trying to contain the monumental. It speaks to how we, even now, grapple with progress and its shadows. Curator: A poignant reminder that even in progress, there’s always something left behind. Editor: Yes, and maybe something new to fear, too. An unsettling glimpse, indeed.