Stirling Castle c. 19th century

Editor: This is J. L. Cranstone's "Stirling Castle," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the contrast between the imposing castle and the grazing animals below. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Notice how the pencil work defines not just the castle, but also the entire landscape. The artist's labor, the repetitive marks, even the paper itself, they all speak to a specific mode of production. How do these materials inform your understanding of the castle's historical context? Editor: I see that the artist prioritizes the castle's dominance using the limited means of pencil and paper. Thanks. Curator: Exactly. Consider how the availability and cost of these materials might have shaped the art market and the consumption of landscape imagery at the time.