Ragland Castle, Monmouthshire 

Editor: This is John Sell Cotman’s "Ragland Castle, Monmouthshire," an etching. The stark contrasts and heavy lines make the castle look almost consumed by the landscape. What stands out to you? Curator: Look at how Cotman emphasizes the physical decay of the castle through the etching process itself. The eroded lines mirror the weathered stone. Consider also the labour involved, the repetitive act of etching emphasizing the castle's slow decline, mirroring the shifting social power away from landed gentry. Editor: So, you're saying the process and material are as much a subject as the castle itself? Curator: Exactly. The image becomes an artifact reflecting material change and the labor behind both its creation and the castle's construction and eventual ruin. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks, it sheds a completely new light on the image.