St. Ippolyts, No. 2 1903

"St. Ippolyts, No. 2" is an etching made by F. L. Griggs, an artist whose work often evokes a sense of the romantic and the medieval, reflecting the cultural anxieties of early 20th-century England. Griggs, deeply affected by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of his time, turned to the past, seeking solace in the imagined purity and simplicity of rural England. But this wasn't just nostalgia; it was a commentary on the profound social changes disrupting traditional ways of life. Here, the imposing church, a symbol of permanence, rises amidst nature's embrace. However, look closer; the figure in the foreground appears hunched and obscured. Is this a vision of harmony or an elegy for what is being lost? Griggs wasn’t merely representing a building; he was capturing a mood, a feeling of longing for a world slipping away. What do you feel as you stand here with this image? What does it mean to look back when the present feels overwhelming?