View of Cromer, a Sheep in the Foreground 

Editor: This watercolor is "View of Cromer, a Sheep in the Foreground" by Peter De Wint. It gives me a sense of serene English countryside. What strikes you about it? Curator: The seemingly bucolic scene belies a complex relationship between land, labor, and representation. How does De Wint’s choice to foreground the sheep speak to the economic realities of the time, to issues of land ownership and rural exploitation? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the sheep as anything beyond pastoral. So, it's a statement about agriculture? Curator: It's a reminder of the social structures underpinning even the most picturesque landscapes. Consider the historical context: who profited from those sheep, and at whose expense? The painting invites us to question whose stories are being told, and whose are being erased from the frame. Editor: I see what you mean. It encourages a more critical view. Thanks!