Model of a Lifting Screw 1857

This is a model of a lifting screw created by Petrus van der Loo, a Dutch artist who lived in the 19th century, when the Netherlands was undergoing significant industrial development. Van der Loo’s model provides insight into the intersections of labor, gender, and technological advancement in the 1800s. Consider the social dynamics of the time: industrialization transformed labor practices, yet access to technology and its benefits were not equally distributed. Who operated these machines, and who profited from them? Predominantly, the labor force consisted of the working class, including women and children, who faced harsh working conditions and limited opportunities for social mobility. The lifting screw, while an innovation, was a tool within a system of inequality. These technologies shaped the lives of workers, particularly women, and contributed to the industrial revolution. It's essential to reflect on the emotional and human aspects of this technological progress and the narratives of those who were directly impacted by such innovations.