Victoria Tower c. 1889

Curator: Here we have Joseph Pennell’s "Victoria Tower," an etching dating to around 1889, part of the collection here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Immediately I feel a strong sense of Victorian London –somber, imposing architecture looming over daily life. The mood evokes industrial society with dark smokey vibes that can feel unsettling and poignant all at once. Curator: The Victoria Tower, as a key part of the Houses of Parliament, inherently represents political power and imperial reach during that era. Its imposing height definitely reinforces those notions. Editor: Precisely! And the blurred figures crossing the street, rendered so vaguely, suggest both the mass of humanity and the anonymity of individuals within that vast political and economic system. This blurriness connects directly to our interpretation and emotional investment. Curator: It's fascinating how Pennell employs the etching technique to achieve that sense of atmosphere. The light seems diffused, almost like it's filtering through fog or rain. It speaks volumes about London's particular climate and character at the time. We read weather in this urban landscape. Editor: This lends to an important aspect to this print, for Londoners the symbolism of weather speaks about more than daily annoyance. The London Fog in particular represented secrets and deception during this time period, often influencing gothic writers such as Shelly and Stevenson. Curator: The deliberate choice to focus on a government building against the average Londoner emphasizes certain power dynamics, reflecting ideas around progress. Editor: But in Pennell's masterful use of suggestion rather than sharp detail, it also embodies that pivotal shift where individuals began to find and define their own place in the modern age and challenged earlier Victorian ideals. What better image to represent the move towards modernity. Curator: That's a thought-provoking reading. This etching, "Victoria Tower," becomes more than just a cityscape. Editor: Indeed, a true symbol of complex change!