View of the Attack on Bunker's Hill, with the Burning of Charles Town, June 17, 1775 1781 - 1783

Editor: So, this is "View of the Attack on Bunker's Hill, with the Burning of Charles Town, June 17, 1775" by John Lodge, created sometime between 1781 and 1783. It’s an engraving, giving it this stark, almost documentary feel. What strikes me is the sheer scale of the destruction; it seems like the artist wants us to really grapple with the implications of the battle. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a very deliberate construction of narrative. Lodge wasn’t necessarily aiming for straightforward reportage. This print, created some years after the event, participated in shaping public memory of the revolution, particularly within England. Editor: How so? Curator: Well, consider the composition. The burning of Charlestown dominates the right side, an almost theatrical display of destruction. But what about Boston on the left? It looks almost untouched, peaceful even. This juxtaposition creates a very particular power dynamic. Who is in control, who is being destroyed? Editor: It feels like a very... British perspective. A controlled show of force, maybe? Curator: Exactly. The print serves as propaganda. It visually asserts dominance and justifies colonial power through a narrative of quelling rebellion. Consider too, where this image was published: in a history of England. It’s a carefully curated perspective aimed at a specific audience to reinforce specific beliefs about power, control, and the cost of dissent. Editor: I didn’t consider the context of it being in a British history book. It definitely shifts the meaning, making it less about historical record and more about national justification. Thanks, that was very enlightening! Curator: Indeed. Examining such historical works is vital in revealing not just events, but also the forces that shape our understanding of them.