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

This photographic print shows Nasmyth’s steam hammer at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, and was made by C.M. Ferrier & F. von Martens. The steam hammer is all about material force. Constructed of heavy cast iron and steel, it embodies the power of industrial production. It was an innovation that allowed the forging of unprecedentedly large metal components. This ability to work metal on a massive scale was critical to building the railways, bridges, and steamships that defined the Victorian era. The photograph itself, with its sepia tones and sharp detail, also speaks to the technological advancements of the time. Photography provided a new way to document and disseminate information about these marvels of engineering, and the Great Exhibition was a stage for innovations like this. By focusing on the steam hammer, the photograph forces us to consider the materiality and processes that underpin both artistic creation and industrial progress. It is a reminder that making, in all its forms, is a fundamentally social and cultural act.