[title not known] 

Curator: This print comes to us from François Louis Thomas Francia, who lived from 1772 to 1839. The work is untitled, and part of the Tate Collections, measuring about 25 by 19 centimeters. Editor: It has a lovely, pastoral feel. The little figures on the path give me a sense of narrative, like a scene from a story I once read. Curator: Note how Francia uses the trees almost as framing devices, pulling our eye down the path. The birds, too, create a sense of movement and continuation. Editor: I think, for me, it's the shadow work on the path that really draws me in. It's as though the road ahead has both light and darkness in equal measure. Curator: Indeed, the path itself has symbolic value. It reflects the idea of a journey, both literal and metaphorical, towards an unknown destination. Editor: It's a journey I think I'd like to take. There is something peaceful, and also a bit melancholy, in this little print.