Twelve Views in South Wales 1775

Editor: So, this is "Twelve Views in South Wales" by Paul Sandby. It's sepia-toned, depicting Chepstow Castle in Monmouthshire. I'm struck by the textures he's able to create with, seemingly, just ink on paper. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the printmaking process itself. Sandby was a pioneer of aquatint. Consider the labor involved: grinding pigments, etching plates, the physical act of printing. These are not just picturesque views, but products of a specific material practice shaped by market demand. Editor: Market demand? Curator: Absolutely! These prints were commodities, intended for consumption by a burgeoning middle class eager to possess tangible representations of the British landscape. This challenges the idea of art as purely aesthetic. Editor: That's a completely different way of looking at it; I had not considered the economic motivations. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, looking at the material conditions helps contextualize its artistic impact.