Penzance 1897

Editor: This is Joseph Pennell's "Penzance," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's an etching of a harbor scene, quite serene. What stands out to you about the historical context of this piece? Curator: Pennell, influenced by Whistler, often depicted urban landscapes. This image, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century, captures Penzance as a bustling port, crucial to its economy and identity. How does this portrayal compare to modern representations of harbor towns? Editor: I see a romanticized view, perhaps obscuring the labor and industrial aspects. Curator: Precisely. These images contributed to the construction of the 'picturesque', idealizing certain social and economic realities, while subtly excluding others. It makes you wonder, who gets to define the image of a place? Editor: I hadn't considered the power dynamics at play. Thanks for shedding light on that. Curator: My pleasure, thinking about the politics of imagery is always important.