London Viewed from the Milford Stairs 1643 - 1644

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Wenceslaus Hollar's etching and engraving, "London Viewed from the Milford Stairs," dating from 1643 to 1644. It's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's a city portrait bathed in quiet light. I find myself immediately drawn to the contrast of the bustling Thames River, filled with little boats, set against the almost sleepy, detailed depiction of London's skyline. The etching technique really captures the texture. Curator: Indeed. Hollar was meticulous. This print offers a valuable glimpse into London during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War. Prints like these were incredibly important for disseminating images of the city. The perspective he's chosen from the Milford Stairs gives the viewer a sense of surveying London at a key point in history. Editor: The very act of documenting becomes a political act, doesn’t it? During a period of upheaval, the decision to record and preserve—to assert London's existence, is powerful. What would the accessibility of prints such as this allow that other modes of image sharing would have? Curator: Certainly. Prints allowed for distribution to a much broader audience than painting alone would have allowed, so news could disseminate, and also a unified, perhaps idealized vision could also circulate. They gave a sense of ownership of that image of London. Editor: The human element intrigues me too, the figures on the river and docks; I find myself curious about their stories within that moment in time and what part the waterway played in those dramas of conflict. The figures are so small, but they ground the scale of the city in our mind’s eye. I think I also appreciate seeing this piece presented today given conversations of migration. Water can be both border and path; maybe it offered freedom for some. Curator: Exactly! This vantage point prompts us to think about the relationship between the city, its inhabitants, and its future. Hollar’s choice to depict London in this way freezes a crucial juncture for the metropolis. It highlights the evolving visual language, social changes, and power dynamics within art production. Editor: So, this little etching opens up not only a view of 17th century London but a whole avenue of inquiry, and the subtle shading and delicate line work offer, in many ways, a study on the nuances of our interpretations, as well. Curator: Well put. There is much here that asks for continued reflection.