Llanthony Abbey, Monmouthshire 

Editor: Here we have John Sell Cotman's "Llanthony Abbey, Monmouthshire," housed at the Tate. It’s a monochromatic print. I'm immediately struck by the texture and ruinous state of the abbey. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Consider the materiality of the print itself. The etching process allowed for mass production, impacting consumption and access to imagery of such structures. How does this democratization of art through printmaking relate to perceptions of the Abbey itself? Editor: So, the method of production influences how people experience this ruin? Curator: Precisely. The print's accessibility contrasts with the Abbey's physical decay. The labor involved in both its construction and subsequent deconstruction, then Cotman's labor in creating the plate, all inform its meaning. What do you make of that? Editor: That’s fascinating, I never considered the labor aspect so directly. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Considering these layers adds another dimension to our understanding.