Naples 

Editor: This is William Marlow's "Naples," a delicate pencil drawing on paper, located in the Tate Collection. I'm struck by how light and airy it feels, almost like a fleeting impression. What do you make of this work? Curator: Consider the paper itself: its cost, availability, and how it reflects light. Marlow's choice of pencil allowed for rapid sketching, capturing the burgeoning 18th-century tourism and the commodification of scenic views like Naples. Who was consuming these images, and how were they circulated? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about the economics of art production in that way. It's amazing how much we can learn about society just by examining the materials used. Curator: Indeed, it moves beyond mere representation to become a document of its time, shaped by materials, labor, and consumption.