View of Great Marlow c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have William Byrne's "View of Great Marlow," an etching. I'm struck by its quiet, almost industrious, depiction of the town. What does this piece suggest to you? Curator: This engraving highlights the means of its own production. Consider the labour involved in etching, the plates, the printing process. How does this reproduction facilitate the consumption and distribution of landscape views? Editor: So, you're thinking about how the printmaking process itself influences our understanding of the scene? Curator: Precisely. Byrne's work isn't just a window onto Great Marlow; it's a commodity, shaped by the technologies and economies of its time. It transforms place into a consumable image. Editor: That's a completely different way of seeing it. It makes me think about accessibility to landscapes at the time.