Tom Tower, Christ Church, Oxford 1838

Editor: This is John Ruskin's "Tom Tower, Christ Church, Oxford." It looks like a pencil drawing and has a somewhat unfinished, ghostly quality. What strikes you about it? Curator: Ruskin's detailed rendering of the architecture underscores his belief in the moral and social significance of Gothic design. He saw it as embodying values of community and craftsmanship, deeply contrasting with the industrial era's alienation. How does this drawing speak to the debates of his time about progress and tradition? Editor: That's fascinating. It makes me think about who gets to define "progress," and whose traditions are valued. Curator: Exactly. And Ruskin’s privileged perspective certainly shapes his romanticized view of the past. Still, his critique of industrial capitalism remains relevant today. Editor: I never thought about architectural drawings having that kind of activist message. Thanks for pointing that out.