Short Cut Collection

'Canal de Suez; Le Nord-Est Africain, 1914. Creator: Unknown
'Canal de Suez; Le Nord-Est Africain, 1914. From "Grande Geographie Bong Illustree", 1914

No. 5: Yoshitsune Takes a Shortcut and Scales the Steep and Dangerous Precipice at... c. 1832/34
No. 5: Yoshitsune Takes a Shortcut and Scales the Steep and Dangerous Precipice at Hiyodori Pass (Gokai, Kando ni omomuku Yoshitsune Hiyodori goe no kenshun nansho o yojinoboru)

Victorian satirical cartoon, the problem with shot cuts
Vintage engraving of a Victorian satire on the problem with shot cuts, 19th Century. Short cuts will often lead astray: The Royal roads the surest way

Shortcut above the River. Creator: Dorte Verner
Shortcut above the River

Some Incidents of a Walking Tour (engraving)
1041088 Some Incidents of a Walking Tour (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Some Incidents of a Walking Tour)

Tourists in Japan, trying to Climb Fusi-Hama (chromolitho)
1060865 Tourists in Japan, trying to Climb Fusi-Hama (chromolitho) by Ralston, William (1848-1911) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tourists in Japan, trying to Climb Fusi-Hama)

A Short Cut across the Fields (engraving)
1589384 A Short Cut across the Fields (engraving) by Hopkins, Arthur (1848-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Short Cut across the Fields)

Deerstalking, a Short Cut on the Way Home (engraving)
1596224 Deerstalking, a Short Cut on the Way Home (engraving) by Woodville, Richard Caton II (1856-1927) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Deerstalking, a Short Cut on the Way Home)

A Days Holiday at a Himalayan Hill-Station (engraving)
1061917 A Days Holiday at a Himalayan Hill-Station (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Days Holiday at a Himalayan Hill-Station)

Mac Vere de Vere determines to spend his Christmas on his Native Heath (engraving)
1045909 Mac Vere de Vere determines to spend his Christmas on his Native Heath (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Life in Southern India (engraving)
1060546 Life in Southern India (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life in Southern India)

Lock on the Panama Canal, 1931. The idea of building a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific was first planned by the French civil engineer and builder of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps

Steamers passing through the Suez Canal, Egypt, 20th century

Ship passing through the Corinth Canal, Greece, late 19th or 20th century. The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth to connect the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean

Wormhole, conceptual artwork
Wormhole. Conceptual computer artwork showing a wormhole leading from Earth (upper centre) to our nearest star Alpha Centauri (lower centre), 4.3 light years away

Smoking her pipe, a Naxi woman rests after crossing a precarious pipe bridge high above the Yangtse. Such nerve-wracking shortcuts save hours of walking in a rural region where facilities

Wormhole through hyperspace, artwork
Wormhole through hyperspace. Artwork of a wormhole connecting two points (black dots) through hyperspace. This hypothetical method of travel (white arrows)

Time travelling spacecraft, artwork
Time travelling spacecraft, conceptual computer artwork

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"Short Cut: The Temptation and Consequences of Taking the Easy Way Out" In a Victorian satirical cartoon, the notion of shortcuts is cleverly depicted. It highlights the problem with taking shortcuts in life, as it often leads to unforeseen complications and humorous mishaps. This timeless theme resonates even today. One such example is captured in Dorte Verner's artwork titled "Shortcut above the River. " Here, we witness individuals attempting to find a quicker route across a river. However, their ill-advised decision results in comical chaos as they struggle to navigate through treacherous waters. Similarly, an engraving titled "A Short Cut across the Fields" portrays people venturing off designated paths for convenience. Little do they know that this shortcut takes them through muddy fields and overgrown vegetation, leaving them disheveled and regretful. Even tourists are not immune to the allure of shortcuts. In "Tourists in Japan, trying to Climb Fusi-Hama, " we see adventurous travelers attempting a direct ascent up a mountain instead of following established trails. Their misguided attempt showcases both their determination and naivety. The consequences of choosing shortcuts extend beyond physical challenges; they can also have unexpected social implications. In "Deerstalking, a Short Cut on the Way Home, " an engraving depicts hunters taking what seems like an easy path back from their expedition but stumbling upon deer grazing peacefully nearby. Their shortcut inadvertently disrupts nature's harmony. Yet sometimes, shortcuts can lead us on exciting adventures or provide much-needed respite from our daily routines. As shown in engravings like "A Day's Holiday at a Himalayan Hill-Station" or "Mac Vere de Vere determines to spend his Christmas on his Native Heath, " these detours offer glimpses into different cultures and landscapes that enrich our lives. However, when it comes to grand engineering feats like locks on the Panama Canal or steamers passing through the Suez Canal, shortcuts are meticulously planned and executed.