Solway Moss c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Thomas Goff Lupton’s "Solway Moss," a print held at the Harvard Art Museums. It has this brooding, almost apocalyptic feel. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: Note how the storm bears down, both a physical threat and a reflection of internal turmoil. The livestock, huddled together, could symbolize vulnerability and a primal need for community in the face of overwhelming forces. Do you see any echoes of historical events in its imagery? Editor: I hadn't considered that, but now I'm thinking about historical conflicts associated with the borderlands, as well as the ever-present struggle with nature. Thanks! Curator: Visual symbols act as cultural memory, don't they? They allow us to connect past experiences to present anxieties, a lineage of emotion rendered in form.