Flatford Mill c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Flatford Mill," by an imitator of John Constable. It is monochrome, measuring about 6x9 inches. It feels both peaceful and dramatic. What do you see here? Curator: The mill, the figure… they're almost archetypes. The mill speaks of industry and our attempts to tame nature. The figure? Perhaps a symbol of the individual, lost in the immensity of the natural world. Editor: I didn’t think about it that way. Curator: Consider the lone figure, set against the backdrop of the mill. Does that not hint at humanity’s changing relationship with nature, our growing distance from a pastoral ideal? Editor: I do see that now! Thank you. Curator: It's all about observing those lasting symbols.