Northeast View of the Town of Cambridge c. 18th century

Editor: This is Samuel Middiman’s "Northeast View of the Town of Cambridge," created sometime in the late 18th century. It looks like an engraving. The detail is incredible, but also makes me think about the labor involved. What strikes you about this work? Curator: The engraving process itself is telling. Consider the division of labor: T. Hearne drew the original image and Middiman reproduced it through engraving. This highlights the commodification of landscape and how reproductive technologies shaped its consumption. How does this division of labor impact your understanding? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way! It shows how art production was becoming industrialized. I’m now seeing it more as a product of its time, influenced by those economic structures. Curator: Precisely. Examining the materials and processes unveils the socio-economic context behind its creation.