Invasion of Britain by the Romans 

Curator: This drawing, entitled "Invasion of Britain by the Romans", is by Richard Corbould. Editor: It feels incredibly dynamic, doesn't it? The composition really conveys the chaos of battle. Curator: Indeed. Corbould uses layered lines and washes to direct our eye. Consider how the phalanx of spears converges at the center. Editor: And the figures, some idealized, some brutally realistic—they reflect the power dynamics of conqueror and conquered. What might this say about British identity at the time it was made? Curator: Precisely, the symbolic weight of such imagery cannot be ignored. The image seems to portray and justify imperial power. Editor: A potent reminder that depictions of history are rarely neutral. Curator: A worthwhile thing to contemplate.