Stonehenge at Daybreak c. 19th century

Curator: Turner's "Stonehenge at Daybreak" offers a dramatic view of this ancient monument. The sepia tones evoke a sense of timelessness. Editor: Yes, and what strikes me is the process itself. How did Turner achieve such atmospheric effects with what appears to be etching? The layering must have been painstaking. Curator: Absolutely. Turner was deeply interested in representing the power of the natural world and its relationship to historical sites like Stonehenge. He understood the cultural weight they bore. Editor: It's a very moody piece. It makes you think about the human labor involved in both its creation and the creation of Stonehenge itself. Curator: Right. It also reflects how 19th-century audiences would have understood landscape and history. He was making a statement about British identity. Editor: I'm just thinking of the materials involved and how they connect us to a specific time and place. Fascinating.