An Iron Forge

The owner of an eighteenth-century iron forge stands with his arms crossed, lit from below by a red-hot iron ingot in this 1772 print entitled Iron Forge. His employees, family, and dog stand with him, looking well dressed and content. English artist Joseph Wright of Derby painted this scene as part of a series celebrating blacksmiths and ironworkers. Derby specialized in paintings featuring unusual light sources, and his work often reflected his Enlightenment-era philosophies. In this case, he valorized new scientific technology and depicted lower-class laborers with symbolism usually reserved for wealthy or heroic figures.