Parson’s Bridge, Cardiganshire 

Editor: Here we have John Sell Cotman's "Parson's Bridge, Cardiganshire," an etching. It feels so romantic and wild to me. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see it as a commentary on the relationship between humans and nature during the early 19th century. Note the small bridge dwarfed by the wild, untamed landscape. It speaks to the burgeoning Industrial Revolution and our attempts to control nature, efforts that were ultimately futile. What do you think? Editor: That's interesting! I was just focused on the aesthetic beauty, but you're right, it's much deeper. Thanks for this perspective. Curator: And thank you for helping me see it with fresh eyes.