Hastings from the Sea, engraved by W. Miller 1836

Curator: This engraving, "Hastings from the Sea" by Clarkson Stanfield, likely made for mass consumption, presents an interesting view of the coastal town. Editor: It feels somber, despite the active waves. The monochromatic palette really emphasizes the working conditions suggested by the laborers in the small boats. Curator: Indeed. The printmaking process itself, the labor of engraving, would have made the image widely accessible, influencing perceptions of Hastings. The print plays into the socio-political understanding of labor and landscape. Editor: It makes you consider how Stanfield’s work, and Miller's engraving, fit into the Victorian appetite for picturesque views. I wonder how it shaped popular conceptions of coastal life. Curator: It definitely reveals the relationship between artistic representation and the rise of tourism. Editor: I'll be thinking about the engraver W. Miller's role in distributing Stanfield's vision of Hastings. Curator: And I, how this image contributed to the wider social narrative around maritime labor.