Havre de Grâce, engraved by W. Miller 1836

Curator: It's the kind of scene where you can smell the salt and hear the clatter of a busy port. Editor: Absolutely. This engraving, "Havre de Grâce" by Clarkson Stanfield depicts a bustling harbour scene, likely from the first half of the 19th century, given Stanfield's active period. It’s currently held in the Tate Collections. Curator: The technique is marvelous—all those intricate lines creating a sense of depth! It almost feels like I’m standing on the quay. There's a figure swimming. Do you see it? Editor: Yes, and that figure immediately complicates the romanticism, doesn't it? Consider how the working-class bodies that sustain this port are rendered nearly invisible, or are relegated to swimming. Curator: That’s a strong point. Still, there's such a vivid, almost dreamlike quality to the light... Editor: Perhaps the "dream" of empire is what Stanfield captures so well. I appreciate you pointing out the light as I think we ought to consider these scenes of labour and leisure in relation to colonialism and social inequality. Curator: Always so grounded, aren't you? I'll stick to my romantic dreams for now.