Pool and Waterfall c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Pool and Waterfall" by W.L. Walton. It looks like it’s made with ink. It’s quite serene. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: The romanticized landscape was very popular, shaped by industrialization and urbanization. People longed for nature, but representations were coded with class and access. Editor: Class? How so? Curator: Who gets to experience nature, who owns the land, and who commissions images of it, are all tied to power. The image normalizes that access. Editor: So, it's not just a pretty picture? Curator: Exactly. It’s about the social and political context that made this type of imagery so appealing, and who it was appealing to. Editor: That’s a different way of seeing it, thank you. Curator: My pleasure, thinking about the forces at play makes art more interesting.