Laying the Foundation-stone of the Chain Bridge 1842

Miklos Barabas made this watercolor painting showing the laying of the foundation stone for the Chain Bridge. Note how much of the image is given over to the architecture, the timber scaffolding built to support the bridge's construction. Barabas must have been fascinated by the process of construction, and he shows it to us here, the work in progress. He uses the watercolor to emphasize the contrast between the ordered wooden skeleton of the structure, and the pomp of the ceremony taking place beneath it. The Chain Bridge was a vital artery of connection, but also a feat of engineering. The labor and materials required for its construction were immense, marking a turn towards industrialization. By focusing on the process, Barabas reminds us that even the most monumental achievements are built upon countless acts of labor, skill, and resourcefulness. This close attention to materiality and making broadens our understanding of the artwork, linking art, craft, and the wider social context.