Lower screw-driven pumping station, Capelle aan de IJssel Possibly 1869

This photograph, captured by Jacobus van Gorkom Jr. in September 1869, portrays the lower screw-driven pumping station at Capelle aan den IJssel. The dominant feature, the screw, is a symbol of progress, efficiency, and human intervention in the natural world. The screw, or helix, is a powerful form. Think of the ancient world's fascination with spirals, seen in labyrinths or the winding snakes of the Caduceus. Here, the industrial screw takes on a new purpose: not of healing or mystery, but of harnessing nature. It recalls the same vital energy, now channeled into the practical task of controlling water. Consider the psychological impact of this machine. Does it evoke a sense of control, or perhaps a deeper anxiety about humanity's relationship with nature? The onward push of the machine, endlessly forward, recalls a deep unease. The screw, evolving from ancient symbol to industrial tool, continues to resurface, demonstrating its cyclical journey through history, adapting its meaning with each new context.