Martello Towers near Bexhill, Sussex 1811

Editor: This is an etching by J.M.W. Turner, titled "Martello Towers near Bexhill, Sussex." It’s… sepia-toned and sort of brooding, but also strangely peaceful. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it’s Turner, so immediately I'm thinking about light, or the lack thereof. The scene feels heavy, doesn't it? The looming cliff, the dark sky. I wonder if he's playing with the idea of England's vulnerability, the towers standing as lonely sentinels against a potential invasion. Editor: Invasion? I was just thinking about a nice day at the beach. Curator: (Laughs) Ah, yes, the beach! But Turner was always one to find the sublime in the everyday, wasn't he? Perhaps it’s both: a beautiful scene touched by a hint of unease. Editor: I guess it's a good reminder that even beauty can have a dark side. Curator: Exactly. And that’s what makes it so compelling, don’t you think?