The Approach to St Malo, engraved by R. Brandard 1836

Editor: This is "The Approach to St Malo," an engraving by R. Brandard after Clarkson Stanfield. It’s a small image, but quite detailed. What strikes me is how it captures a sense of everyday life against the backdrop of this fortified city. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a critical portrayal of labor and access. Consider the figures in the foreground – likely local workers, perhaps women – contrasted with the imposing, almost impenetrable walls of St. Malo. Who benefits from this fortification, and who is excluded? Editor: So, you're saying the image isn't just a picturesque scene, but a commentary on social divisions? Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to question whose stories are typically centered in landscape art, and whose are marginalized. The print becomes a space to interrogate power dynamics of 19th-century French society. Editor: That's given me a lot to think about, looking beyond the surface. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Art invites critical engagement with history.