Street in Totnes 1897

Editor: This is Joseph Pennell’s “Street in Totnes,” held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a pen and ink drawing. The buildings feel very imposing, almost looming. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Pennell, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often depicted urban scenes, reflecting the era's fascination with industrial progress and societal structures. This piece, however, seems more focused on the established order. Does the architectural style evoke a sense of history or power to you? Editor: Definitely history. I get a sense of permanence, as if this street has been here for centuries. Curator: Precisely. Pennell's choice to depict this particular street likely speaks to his interest in representing the enduring elements of society amidst rapid change. It’s interesting to consider what aspects of the world artists choose to immortalize. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. I didn't consider the choices behind the subject of the artwork.