The Clock Tower From the Surrey Side 1903

Curator: This is Joseph Pennell's "The Clock Tower From the Surrey Side," an etching created in 1903. It is part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: It feels delicate, almost ghostly. The pale grays and whites give it this ephemeral quality. It is hard to believe it depicts such an iconic and historically charged structure like the Houses of Parliament. Curator: Indeed, Pennell, who lived from 1857 to 1926, frequently portrayed urban scenes and architectural wonders. However, what makes his work particularly compelling is his engagement with themes of modernity and industrialization. He was, after all, working and living amidst the peak of Victorian London and the British Empire. Editor: Seeing Big Ben towering in the distance, shrouded in mist, immediately brings up complex issues. For some, it embodies the glory of the British Empire. For others, it represents a legacy of colonialism, class division, and, especially during that era, gender inequality. Curator: Precisely. This visual rendering encourages us to examine the legacy of power structures represented within seemingly picturesque urban landscapes. His deliberate artistic choices of etching could align with feminist ideas of fragility or of working with accessible and intimate medium to engage with the grandiose symbols of power that permeate his daily life. Editor: That is thought-provoking. By positioning us on the Surrey side, Pennell forces the viewer into a position of "otherness", creating a space where you contemplate both inclusion and exclusion. It seems the scene captures the everyday experiences of the inhabitants of the British capital at that moment, negotiating identity and societal pressures. Curator: Ultimately, this seemingly unassuming etching compels us to explore a multi-layered and contested history. Editor: Yes, its gentle surface hides an assertive question for those willing to investigate it more closely.