Saumur 1831

Editor: Here we have Robert Wallis' "Saumur," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a tiny etching, but it feels grand, almost dreamlike, with that imposing castle in the background. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's like gazing into a memory, isn't it? The light seems to pour down, almost blessing the scene. I imagine Wallis wanted us to feel a connection to this place. What do you make of the figures in the foreground? Editor: They seem so small, almost incidental to the architecture. Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe they are the point! They are like tiny players in a vast historical drama, just like us. Editor: I never thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's those quiet details that often whisper the loudest.