Railway Naturalization in the 19th Century

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The paper probes an article by Segal Zef, one of the authors who addressed railway naturalization in the 19th century. The article critically explains the abrupt transformation of the German train from not only an emblem of dynamic industrialization but an integral part of the terrain. The article explains how landscape arts used in the representation of the railways initially had created notions of anxiety in people and perceived threats to the environment. This later changed when the German artists came up with art that resonated with the people leading to the absorption of railways into the landscape. The article shows that despite the dramatic response to the landscapes, railways were not necessarily ruinous to nature rather an embodiment of advancement. The railway is a significant transport that has positively enhanced economic, social and political growth in contemporary society. The response is based on the article summary, author’s argument, and analysis based on the course content.
Summary
According to the author, the art landscapes used early in the 19th century mainly had resulted in the sense of trepidation, but this later changed as people’s understanding of trains developed. A change in the railway landscapes was made a shift that delineated railways as a requisite part of a landscape. The article shows how German artists had shown prowess in their art and were entirely responsible for effecting the change. This was affected by their acquaintance with a visual discourse by the 19th century compared to American, British and French artists. The German artists invented art that blended well with the existing topography rather than posing a threat to nature. On the other hand, American, British and French artists conceptually had problematic experiences trying to describe the trains for that reason had caused social anxiety. Based on the article, images shown by the German artists showed a much more detailed terrain and architectural backdrop that later changed the mindsets of people. The German train system transformed into a landscape aspect from a symbol of industrialization. The major visual aspects that catalyzed such transformation were the postcards and the lithographs. The publications occurred in different German localities to show the necessity of railway transport. Industrialization in Germany also shifted due to railway depiction leading to the growth of specific towns such as Siegerdof and Wilsdorf. Therefore, the summary adequately shows the key ideas of the author.[Zef Segal, "The ...