Turbine van Fromont op de de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in het Crystal Palace in Londen 1851

This photograph depicts the Turbine van Fromont as it was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London's Crystal Palace. Captured by C.M. Ferrier and F. von Martens, it embodies the Victorian era's fascination with industrial progress and technological innovation. Consider the spectacle of this exhibition, a global stage where nations paraded their advancements. This turbine, a symbol of power and efficiency, reflects the cultural and economic shifts driven by industrialization. It stood as an icon of progress and the colonial ambitions that fueled the need for innovation. The very act of photographing this machine speaks to a desire to document and disseminate these new technologies. Yet, it also obscures the labor and resources extracted to bring it into being. This piece serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between progress, power, and representation.