[inscriptions not by Turner] 

Curator: This small sheet, entitled "[inscriptions not by Turner]" by Philip James De Loutherbourg, presents a curious puzzle. It's part of the Tate's collection, but undated. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to the handwriting; the spidery "Llangollen" script has such a ghostly quality. It feels like a fragment of a forgotten letter. Curator: The materiality is key, I think. The paper itself tells a story of production, of a specific era of manufacture, and possibly use as something other than a finished artwork. Editor: Perhaps it's a note, a reminder, or a shopping list, repurposed by the artist? It's like finding a secret message hidden in plain sight, hinting at what inspired the landscapes. Curator: The inscriptions, as the title suggests, are likely not by Turner himself, pointing towards later categorizations and modes of ownership. The layering of different hands across time is fascinating. Editor: I love how this humble piece invites us to imagine the unseen narrative behind the art, like a whisper from the past. What stories it could tell, eh? Curator: Precisely. It is in these fragments that we find a reflection of our interaction with the art world. Editor: Makes me want to go digging in attics!