Landscape c. 19th century

Curator: This is John Constable's "Landscape," a pencil drawing. It's part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so faint, almost ghostly! A quiet, almost dreamlike rendition of a rural scene. Curator: Constable was deeply invested in representing the English countryside, often in opposition to the industrializing forces of his time. Consider the politics of landscape, who has access to it, and what it represents. Editor: Yes, and the labor involved in shaping these landscapes. We see the buildings, the church, perhaps a tacit acknowledgement of the human intervention. Curator: Absolutely, it is both a celebration and perhaps a subtle critique. It prompts us to consider the social and economic contexts within which these landscapes exist. Editor: A reminder that even the most serene image has a story of production embedded within it. Curator: It certainly gives us more to think about than just a pretty picture. Editor: Indeed. It also gives us more to think about than just pretty pencil lines.