Castle at Tancarville 1822

Curator: Before us, we have John Sell Cotman's "Castle at Tancarville," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's got this dreamy, almost otherworldly feel, like a forgotten kingdom rising from the mists. Curator: The castle itself becomes a potent symbol of feudal power and isolation perched atop that formidable cliff. Note how the foliage almost engulfs the structure. Editor: It's like nature is reclaiming the space, softening its edges. Makes you wonder about the stories those stones could tell, the power struggles, the lives lived and lost. Maybe that's why I feel this haunting melancholia. Curator: The image also evokes the Romantic era's fascination with ruins, and serves as a reminder of the transience of human endeavors against the backdrop of nature's enduring presence. Editor: Yes, it's about time and memory. After seeing this, I need to go read some dark fantasy novel.