Brighton Chain Pier c. 19th century

Curator: This is Robert Wallis's "Brighton Chain Pier," a print housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The pier itself creates such a striking horizontal line across the composition. Editor: It certainly does. The monochrome print lends a certain gravitas, and yet the scene itself, with boats and figures, suggests leisure and commerce. I wonder about class and access here. Curator: Absolutely. The pier was a marvel of engineering, but also a locus of social activity. Consider the labor involved in its construction, the iron chains forged, the wood harvested. Editor: And who had access to this leisure? How did the pier shape Brighton's identity? This print, as a commodity itself, circulates ideas about progress, tourism, and perhaps even empire. Curator: The printmaking process allowed for widespread distribution, shaping perceptions of Brighton far beyond its shores. It democratized the image, if not the experience, of the pier. Editor: Yes, and it invites us to think critically about the narratives we construct around progress. It's more than a pretty pier, it is a statement of intent.