[16] Paper Mills at Vietri 1778 - 1779

Editor: This is "Paper Mills at Vietri" by John 'Warwick' Smith. It’s a watercolor piece, and I find it quite charming, almost like a postcard. What stands out to you? Curator: The image presents a romantic view, yet consider the intense labor involved in 18th-century paper production. The mills themselves were centers of industry, their location dictated by the need for water power. How does Smith’s composition perhaps obscure this labor? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s picturesque, not gritty. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on aesthetics, are we overlooking the material conditions of production and consumption inherent in the making of paper? The very support of this watercolor. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!