Hove 1906

Curator: Looking at this print, “Hove,” an etching created by Muirhead Bone in 1906, I'm immediately struck by its quiet melancholy. The scene unfolds with sailboats and distant buildings fading into a pale sky. Editor: There's something grounding about the way the physical reality of labor anchors the image. Those carts on the beach, they speak volumes about the social and economic realities of life by the sea at the turn of the century. Curator: Absolutely. And thinking about that context further, Hove at that time was undergoing significant development. We see in Bone’s etching, beyond just a seascape, a glimpse of urbanization and the changing relationship between people and the coast. Who had access? Who benefitted from development? These are questions raised subtly through its depiction. Editor: The etching process itself feels pertinent to this discussion. The marks incised on the metal plate—this inherently mechanical, labor-intensive act— mirrors the lives of these coastal workers we see before us. Their toil and their means of conveyance are recorded here alongside those sleek sailboat masts, those marks are almost tactile, you can nearly feel the effort involved. Curator: I agree. There’s also the role of light. It's not merely decorative; the light illuminates—sometimes selectively—revealing certain aspects of coastal life while obscuring others. It raises the question: what perspectives are privileged here and what is left out? How did urban development impact the lives of women, people of color and other marginalized groups at the time, were they present in these spaces? Editor: It prompts a question about material history, too. Was this a commissioned piece, aimed at romanticizing progress, or a social commentary capturing the unseen physical exertion behind leisurely pursuits? I want to know more about how this artwork was produced and for what purpose. Curator: Thinking about its legacy today, “Hove” resonates with ongoing dialogues about coastal communities grappling with climate change, tourism, and displacement. The ghosts of that past echo through the present as coastal communities evolve. Editor: Exactly. Analyzing Bone’s "Hove" reminds me that the artwork's social meaning isn't locked in time. Curator: A work, then, that invites layers of historical, material, and sociopolitical interrogation. Editor: Absolutely, leaving me with an appreciation of the unseen realities behind beautiful settings.