Image courtesy of http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/railways, originally uploaded by Jimbo (Alan James Wellock).
Painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner, in 1844, the above painting is seen as one of his most famous. Depicting the Great Western Railway operating in terrible weather in his 'impressionistic' approach creates a great sense of speed and purpose. A notion that even nature cannot stop man's most brilliant triumph. Being the fastest mode of transport in the 19th Century meant the train was seen as the Concorde of its age, taking people and goods places faster and more efficient than ever before. As with most technology it was used commercially first but as the century progressed, businesses became aware that there may be an industry in transporting people, and so tourist industry was born. It seems hard to invision the impact the introduction of the train had a on a world dominated by horse and cart, people must have seen them as the 'ships of the land.'
No comments:
Post a Comment