Arden Applied the Lighted Match, Jules Verne, 1870

When Around the Moon was published in 1870, no human had ever left Earth. Yet Jules Verne imagined not only the journey itself, but many of the practical challenges of travelling through space.

In this scene, Michel Ardan lights a small rocket attached to the projectile in an attempt to alter its course. It is a remarkably modern idea: once in space, a spacecraft must be able to manoeuvre, not simply coast toward its destination. Interestingly, although the character’s name is Ardan, the original caption beneath this illustration reads “Arden Applied the Lighted Match”, preserving a spelling found in the first English edition.

Verne’s Moon novels were based on extensive scientific research and calculations. Nearly a century later, engineers involved in the Apollo programme acknowledged the influence of his work, whose launch concept, trajectory and ocean splashdown shared striking similarities with the first lunar missions.

Today, these illustrations remain a fascinating meeting point between literature, science and imagination.

I chose this print because it captures a surprisingly modern idea.

It isn’t simply about travelling to the Moon. It’s about navigating through space. The tiny burst of flame, the vast emptiness around the capsule and the distant Moon overhead somehow make the scene feel contemporary, despite being imagined more than 150 years ago.

This image has been carefully prepared for fine art printing.

Dust, stains, scanning artifacts, and tonal inconsistencies are corrected by hand where needed. The file is then checked for sharpness, tonal range, and print quality.

The goal is not to redesign the original, but to preserve its character while making it suitable for contemporary printing.

Printed on Hahnemühle 308 gsm museum-quality fine art paper with a matte finish, or available as a premium 400 gsm canvas mounted in a handcrafted wooden float frame.

Paper prints are shipped unframed and wrapped in acid-free tissue paper.