Tornaro c. 19th century

Curator: This wispy etching, “Tornaro,” by Robert Wallis, presents a hazy coastal view. Editor: It evokes such a sense of serene isolation, doesn’t it? The limited tonal range almost washes away the details. Curator: The strategic placement of the image within the vast, blank space of the paper could represent the alienation of humanity within the vastness of nature. Editor: I see the cliff’s edge as a precipice between the known and unknown, between safety and danger; and the body of water a representation of cleansing and rebirth. Curator: It's interesting how the Romantic era idealization of nature intersects with the social realities of coastal communities dependent on precarious resources. Editor: Precisely, and this image, reduced to its symbolic essence, speaks volumes about our complex relationship with these spaces. Curator: A relationship of exploitation, perhaps, but also of profound awe. Editor: Yes, a beautiful tension to consider, really.