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

This photograph of the Great Exhibition in London's Crystal Palace, taken in 1851 by C.M. Ferrier and F. von Martens, provides insight into the material culture of the Victorian era. The image itself, made through early photographic processes, reflects the Victorian obsession with documentation, while also pointing to the rise of mass media, and new possibilities for visualizing the world. Yet, what’s more striking is the building itself, a monument to industrial production, made of iron and glass: materials emblematic of the era's technological advancements. The Crystal Palace was built using prefabricated parts. It embodies the shift towards mass production, and it was designed to house manufactured goods from around the world. These goods were produced by the labor of countless workers, a global network of extraction, production, and consumption. By focusing on the materials and processes involved in both the construction of the Crystal Palace and the creation of this photograph, we gain a better understanding of the complex relationship between art, industry, and society in the 19th century.