In retrospect, the pace of change in the arts and industry in the nineteenth century seems pretty glacial. Painting, music, the novel, architecture were all evolving, but at a pretty observable pace.

Amor Towles’s quote, “In retrospect, the pace of change in the arts and industry in the nineteenth century seems pretty glacial. Painting, music, the novel, architecture were all evolving, but at a pretty observable pace,” reflects a contemplative view on the historical evolution of culture and technology. Towles is contrasting the gradual progression of creative and industrial fields in the 1800s with the rapid, often chaotic changes of the modern era. His use of the word “glacial” suggests a slow and steady transformation, where developments were discernible, incremental, and comprehensible within the human experience.

The origin of this quote is rooted in Towles’s broader interest in history, art, and the interplay between time and society, themes that often permeate his novels like A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway. As a former investment professional turned writer, Towles brings a nuanced awareness of cultural timelines, recognizing that the nineteenth century, while dynamic in its own right—with the rise of Romanticism, Industrialization, and urban architecture—still moved at a pace that allowed for reflection and absorption of change.

By citing specific disciplines like painting, music, the novel, and architecture, Towles emphasizes how the creative fields, though evolving, did so in a way that allowed artists and audiences to fully engage with new ideas. The transitions from classicism to modernism, or horse-drawn carriages to steam locomotives, felt transformative but not disorienting. This slower pace allowed each generation to process and contribute meaningfully to their cultural legacy.

Ultimately, Towles’s quote invites reflection on how time and change shape our perception of culture. In contrast to today’s world—where digital revolutions and global shifts happen almost instantaneously—the nineteenth century represents a period of measured transformation. His observation reminds us of the value in a pace that fosters depth, continuity, and understanding, qualities that can be difficult to maintain in our current age of rapid innovation.