River with Stone Bridge (Stopham Bridge, Sussex) 1903

Editor: So this is "River with Stone Bridge" by Frederick Landseer Maur Griggs. It's a lovely etching, quite small, and it evokes such a sense of calm and quiet. What do you notice in this piece? Curator: I see Griggs channeling a bit of early Samuel Palmer, that yearning for an idealized English past, filtered through his own intricate, almost dreamlike vision. The detail in the foliage and the bridge's reflection is striking. Do you see how the bridge acts as both a connector and a barrier, a passage to somewhere else yet rooted firmly in this idyllic scene? Editor: That's interesting, a barrier. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Yes, the archways could be seen as framing devices too. They lead the eye, but also subtly contain the scene. Editor: I like that; it’s given me a lot to think about. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It's these quiet pieces that often speak the loudest, don't you think?