Land’s End, Cornwall, engraved by J.W. Kernot 1836

Curator: This engraving, "Land's End, Cornwall," is based on a work by Clarkson Stanfield, the renowned 19th-century marine painter. The image captures the rugged coastline of Cornwall, engraved by J.W. Kernot. Editor: My first impression is one of isolation, a stark contrast between the solid land and the vast, unknowable sea. There's a real sense of vulnerability evoked by the rocky point. Curator: Absolutely, and it speaks to Britain's complex relationship with its maritime identity, built on exploration and trade, but also on colonial exploitation and the erasure of indigenous cultures. The lighthouse in the distance is a visual shorthand for the narratives of progress. Editor: The lighthouse is an important symbol, also. For centuries, lighthouses have guided sailors and served as beacons of hope. This recalls a reliance on the sea, but also its dangers. Curator: It's a reminder that even at the height of industrial power, humanity is still at the mercy of nature's forces and our own social structures. Editor: That is the tension, isn't it? Nature and society. This small image contains such large and persistent questions.