The Progress of the Century - the Lightening Steem Press

"The Progress of the Century—The Lightning Steamer Press," by Currier and Ives, exemplifies 19th-century American genre painting with a focus on technological progress. Created during the era of Romanticism, which emphasized innovation and dramatic imagery, the artwork employs detailed lithographic techniques characteristic of Currier and Ives' prolific printmaking style. The title highlights themes of rapid advancement and industrial achievement, capturing the optimism of the period. As a lithograph, it combines vivid imagery and expressive detail, celebrating the transformative influence of modern invention in the bustling American landscape of the century.