The Industrial Revolution raised concerns about the natural landscape as broad social and economic changes also generated increasing pollution across England. Around the same time, the ideas of naturalism (from French philosophical writings) spread throughout Europe. They convinced people to return to the simple ways of nature. Enlightenment theories of Reason spread ideas about nature as teacher and guide. However, landscape painting in England at that time was not important, compared to portraiture or history painting (Gardner 2009, pp 793). The passion for landscape art was fostered by developments in road and rail infrastructure due to rapid industrialisation. New thoughts on the subjective associations of landscape painting with spirituality, morality and philosophy were inspired by Romantic poetry. Nineteenth-century poetry embodied sublime forces and mystical kinship with nature (Gardner 2009, pp 793). Landscape painting soon emerged, becoming a medium for a full range of conscious and subconscious emotions; entered the realm of sublime and symbolic expression. The Industrial Revolution that began in the mid-17th century brought major social and economic changes to Britain's demographic landscape. This phenomenon then spread to the United States and Europe, influencing similar changes in (their) social and economic conditions (Wyatt 2009). The English landscape was the scene of rapid physical transformation. Where once there was uncontaminated countryside, spinning mills stood. The rapid expansion of the steel and mining industries turned night into day. The days turned into smog-filled vistas of darkness. An increase in wealth has also brought with it physical problems caused by pollution and unhealthy working conditions. Figure no. 1 is a depiction of an industrial landscape at night. The strange glow of a coal furnace contrasts with the natural light of the moon. The image embraces an honest depiction of current conditions. Its dystopian context is symbolized by the contrast between a man-made industrial hell and a natural landscape. The genre of landscape painting in England during the 18th century was not given the same importance as portraiture or historical illustration. This “hierarchy of genres” (Langdon 2007) lost importance during the Industrial Revolution as people began to relate to the subjective impressions found in landscape painting. The subjective association of landscape with emotional meaning evolved as a new sensitivity to the natural world inspired poets and writers. The sheer force of nature metaphor combined with poetic and prosaic imagery. One of Wordsworth's earliest romantic poems mourns the loss of man's spiritual union with nature.