Dinner Time 1913

This print of an industrial scene was created by Joseph Pennell. The image is dominated by the vertical motif of figures suspended by a crane, a striking configuration that echoes the "fall of man." The cluster of workers dangling precariously above the pit conjures a modern-day descent, reminiscent of biblical narratives or classical myths where figures are cast into the underworld. Here, they are brought together by the act of labor in this chasm that bisects the composition. Compare this to images of the crucifixion or even depictions of hell, where verticality signifies a fall from grace or a state of torment. The artist’s subconscious is surely at play. These motifs engage our primal fears and anxieties about mortality and social status. The image evokes the raw emotions tied to the human condition. Symbols such as these resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, weaving through different historical contexts.