View of a Village, with a Man Leaning on a Fence and Another Mowing 

Curator: This is Susanna Duncombe’s, View of a Village, with a Man Leaning on a Fence and Another Mowing. A small, understated work in the Tate collection. Editor: Understated for sure! It’s like a half-remembered dream of the countryside. So muted, almost ghostly. Curator: The sepia tones speak to the materials available to Duncombe. It's likely she employed iron gall ink, made from tannin and iron salts, which was common in the 18th century. Editor: Right, right, the practicalities. But imagine the stories those fence-leaners could tell! What were they gossiping about as someone else toiled? Curator: The labor is key. We see the social hierarchy embedded in this seemingly idyllic scene. Duncombe shows us the means of production. Editor: Or maybe she just liked the way the light hit the field. It’s all in how you choose to see things, isn’t it? Curator: Perhaps, but understanding the context enhances the viewing experience. Editor: Point taken. It’s a nice little slice of then, however you slice it.