Doorway, Temple, frontispiece to Original Views of London as It Is 1842

Curator: This is “Doorway, Temple, frontispiece to Original Views of London as It Is,” a print from 1842 by Thomas Shotter Boys, currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago. It's a lithograph with watercolor and drawing, on toned paper. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to the dramatic play of light and shadow around the archway; it imbues the scene with a sense of both grandeur and quiet mystery. Curator: Shotter Boys, a notable figure in British printmaking, created this piece as part of a broader project to capture the essence of London. It’s not just about the aesthetic, but about documenting the city as a space of industry and society, reproduced for mass consumption. The romantic architectural setting hints at broader themes within London’s societal fabric. Editor: I agree that its romantic quality stands out. Observe the delicate gradations in the watercolour, the careful detailing of the stonework—how they all serve to highlight the impressive symmetry and depth created by the receding arches. Curator: What interests me is how this print fits into the explosion of urban imagery at the time. As lithography became more accessible, London was rendered into countless views consumed across social strata. Notice also the figures in the foreground, sketched as casual genre elements. They are crucial in understanding London life and the artist's engagement with it. It's about more than pure aesthetics; it involves labor, social class, and the business of art. Editor: Perhaps, but these very figures—seemingly absorbed in their own little world—accentuate the monumentality of the architecture behind them, drawing a wonderful contrast. They draw the eye up to the imposing stone, and then, inward, through that stunning doorway. It is beautiful, the careful balance between detail and the softened watercolor. Curator: Shotter Boys masterfully uses watercolor washes and detailed drawing, printed in volume, to represent London, a growing modern urban experience. Editor: I find it beautifully contemplative. Its delicate strokes guide our eye and its architecture evokes something powerful. Curator: Yes, and those deliberate artistic choices connect to broader shifts in how cities and societies were represented.