Nantes 1831

Editor: This is "Nantes," an undated engraving by James Tibbits Willmore, over at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small, but it captures a bustling waterside scene. What sort of stories do you think this imagery tells? Curator: The waterways are fascinating, aren't they? Water often represents the subconscious, flowing between conscious structures like buildings. Do you see how the artist uses the light and shadow to create a sense of depth, almost a dreamlike quality? Editor: Yes, the contrast is striking! So, you see this less as a literal depiction of Nantes, and more as a... symbolic space? Curator: Indeed. The waterways might signify the passage of time, collective memory, and the constant flux of human experience within a city. It's not just Nantes, but all of us. Editor: Wow, that's a lot to take in. Thanks for opening my eyes to the symbolism. Curator: My pleasure. It's always rewarding to consider how images resonate across time and cultures.