Classical Landscape 

Editor: This is Alexander Cozens' "Classical Landscape," held at the Tate. It's a brown ink drawing, and what strikes me is the way the material creates this sort of dreamlike, unified world. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Well, consider the brown ink, likely iron gall. The labour involved in its creation, the sourcing of materials, the skill required for its application – these are all critical. What social structures allowed for such a refined landscape to be produced and consumed? Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't thought about it in terms of production and consumption. Thanks. Curator: Thinking about these dynamics transforms our perception. We move beyond simply appreciating the aesthetic to understanding the economics of artmaking.