Weehawken, New Jersey and New York 

Editor: This is Muirhead Bone’s "Weehawken, New Jersey and New York," a cityscape created with graphite and ink. I am immediately struck by the contrast between the organic, almost wild hillside on the left and the rigid, industrial landscape on the right. What sociopolitical dynamics were at play when this piece was created? Curator: It's insightful to notice that contrast. This drawing prompts us to consider the history of urban development and its impact on the natural environment, but also how class differences shaped both lived spaces. How did industrial growth affect communities? Did that period lead to a displacement of local communities? Editor: The drawing makes me think about the working class, and who lived on the "wild" hillside, compared to who owned those industrial buildings on the other side of the river. Were the residential areas shown in the image class-based enclaves at the time? Curator: Absolutely. The work pushes us to investigate the artist's perspective within this evolving landscape. Was Muirhead Bone commenting on industrial expansion, or simply capturing it? Who would have commissioned this work, and how might their worldview have influenced the drawing itself? Does it present a critical view, or a celebration of progress? Consider how Bone depicts labor itself. Are the workers visible? Or are they absent, overshadowed by the scale of industry? Editor: I see your point! By observing the composition and considering Bone’s position, and his potential patrons’ motivations, we gain a more critical understanding of the work as a commentary on the period's values. It invites us to think about those made invisible by this kind of “progress.” Curator: Precisely. This image captures a pivotal moment. Hopefully it motivates us to interrogate these kinds of visual narratives that continue shaping our relationship to landscapes, labor, and social structures.