View at Deptford 

Curator: John Sell Cotman's "View at Deptford," part of the Tate Collections, presents a fascinating study in decay. The etching employs hatching and cross-hatching techniques to articulate its surfaces. Editor: The building looks haunted! The image evokes a feeling of abandonment, the ragged edges hinting at a life in decline. Curator: Observe how Cotman uses the vertical and horizontal lines to give structure to the composition. Notice also the placement of the figures, which gives additional depth and compositional variation. Editor: Yes, there is a child, and a dog, an archetypal symbol of fidelity, near what looks like a dilapidated building. A sign of hope amidst ruin? Curator: Perhaps. Or a structural choice to emphasize the building's monumental, almost oppressive qualities. Editor: I see the endurance of life itself. Curator: And I see the artistry of line. Editor: Ultimately, both are there, aren't they?