Crowhurst c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Crowhurst" by J.M.W. Turner, held at the Harvard Art Museums. I find this etching intriguing because of the figures nestled among the trees. What draws your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Turner's landscape etchings often engage with the picturesque tradition, framing nature as a carefully composed scene. This work, with its pastoral figures, evokes an idealized vision of rural life, yet how does it serve the public? Editor: What do you mean by "serve the public?" Curator: These images, circulated widely, reinforced certain notions of British identity and land ownership. Who gets to enjoy this idealized countryside and who is excluded? Editor: That's an interesting way to look at a landscape! I hadn't considered the political implications before.