Amalfi c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Robert Wallis's print, "Amalfi," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Its creation date is unknown. Editor: My first thought? Miniature drama. The dark ink and small scale give it a brooding, tempest-in-a-teacup feel, like a memory trying to surface. Curator: The Amalfi Coast became a popular destination in the 19th century, particularly for British travelers on the Grand Tour. Wallis captured the picturesque landscape, which catered to a growing market for travel prints. Editor: I can almost feel the salty spray of the sea and hear the creak of the mast! Travel became democratized and everyone wants to feel like they are on the grand tour. Curator: Precisely, prints like these provided accessible experiences of places far removed from the everyday. Editor: It's like a postcard from a dream. Curator: Indeed, and those dreams shaped both artistic production and tourist expectations. Editor: This little artwork makes me feel like I'm both a tiny sailor and an armchair traveler.