Eton from the Slough Road c. 18th century

Editor: This is William Byrne’s “Eton from the Slough Road,” and what strikes me is how the opulence of Eton College looms over what seems like a group of laborers. What can you tell me about the social context here? Curator: Well, consider the picturesque aesthetic popular at the time. It often romanticized the rural landscape, but can also inadvertently highlight social stratification. Who benefits from the image versus who's obscured or marginalized? Editor: So, the beauty of the scene might mask underlying inequalities? Curator: Precisely. The grand architecture of Eton, built on privilege, contrasts sharply with the obscured figures of those working the land. Whose story gets told, and whose is erased in the image? What do you think? Editor: I never considered how landscape art could also be read as a form of social commentary. It’s about more than just pretty scenery. Curator: Exactly. Seeing art through an intersectional lens reveals these power dynamics.