Ironworks, Fenton, Monmouth 

Editor: This is John Inigo Richards' "Ironworks, Fenton, Monmouth," from around the late 18th century, it looks like watercolor on paper. The mix of industry and nature feels a bit unsettling. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's interesting to see how Richards, working during the rise of industrialization, depicts this ironworks. Notice the smoke juxtaposed with the flowing water; this image reflects a changing landscape and the socio-political tensions inherent in that transition. Do you see that contrast? Editor: I do, now that you mention it. It is a bit like a record of a specific historical moment, isn't it? Curator: Precisely. And consider how this image, perhaps intended as topographical documentation, now serves as a commentary on the impact of industry on the environment and society. Editor: That really changes how I see it. Thanks!