Wycliffe near Rokeby c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have "Wycliffe near Rokeby" by John Pye the Younger. It’s a serene landscape. I'm curious, what do you see in this piece? Curator: The etching process itself interests me here. Consider the copperplate, the acid, the press – all elements facilitating the mass reproduction of this image. How does that impact its value, both economic and cultural? Editor: That's a great point. How would access to such an image affect, say, ideas around the British landscape? Curator: Precisely. Its availability transforms nature into a commodity, something to be consumed visually, impacting tourism, land ownership, and even our relationship to the environment itself. Is this nature for everyone? Or just those who can afford it? Editor: I hadn't considered that angle. It’s fascinating how the production of the image changes our perception.