Watermill c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Watermill" by J.M.W. Turner, housed here at Harvard. It’s a delicate etching. How should we think about a relatively mundane subject like this? Curator: Consider the means of production. Etching allowed for reproducibility, democratizing art. Turner, by depicting a watermill, engages with the social context of labor and industry. Editor: So, it's less about the pretty landscape and more about... work? Curator: Precisely. Think about the materiality of the print itself, the paper, the ink, the labor involved in its creation and distribution. It’s a commentary on the changing landscape and the changing modes of production. Editor: I see. So, viewing art through the lens of its production offers a different perspective. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It reveals hidden layers of meaning we might otherwise miss.