Chicago, the Epoch of a Great City was a mural commissioned by the WPA that depicts the city of Chicago. It serves as a timeline of Chicago’s history, presenting events such as the founding of the city, the Great Chicago Fire, and important industries to the city such as metalworking and agriculture. Sternberg also made sure to include images of tomorrow, showing the progression of trains from hulking steam engines to a futuristic design that could resemble a modern train. Sternberg glorifies chicago throughout the mural and paints a message of a better tomorrow, an inspiring tale for the time.
CHICAGO: THE EPOCH OF A GREAT CITY
Chicago: the Epoch of a Great City, Harry Sternberg (1938)