Coastal Scene with a Two-Master at Anchor and a Horse-Drawn Wagon on Shore 

Curator: This is Susanna Duncombe’s "Coastal Scene with a Two-Master at Anchor and a Horse-Drawn Wagon on Shore," currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: The sketchiness gives it an ephemeral quality, doesn’t it? Like a fleeting memory of the coast, quickly jotted down. Curator: Indeed, the use of graphite suggests immediacy, a record of maritime commerce and labor. Notice how the horses are positioned relative to the anchored ship. Editor: It highlights the reliance on animal power, the working-class struggle intertwined with global trade, all shaped by the institutions and markets of the time. Curator: And consider how Duncombe, as a woman artist, navigated the artistic landscape of her era, finding expression through these subtle observations of everyday life. Editor: A fascinating glimpse into the past, where art meets social history in a quiet, understated way.