Sémur, General View through Viaduct 1911 - 1912

Editor: This is a lovely ink drawing called "Sémur, General View through Viaduct" by Percy Francis Gethin. I’m really drawn to the contrast between the solid, man-made bridge and the organic shapes of the tree. What captures your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: It feels like peering through a window, doesn't it? The viaduct becomes a frame, highlighting the town. I'm intrigued by how Gethin uses soft washes to create depth, almost like a fading memory. The town itself seems to nestle under the watchful gaze of the church spire. I wonder, what stories do you imagine unfolding within those buildings? Editor: That’s a great way to put it – a fading memory. I hadn't thought about the "window" aspect. I see now it's both a physical structure and a lens through which we view the scene. Curator: Exactly. It blurs the line between observer and observed, inviting us to contemplate time, perspective, and our connection to the past.