[inscriptions not by Turner] 

Curator: This small work is titled "[inscriptions not by Turner]" by Philip James De Loutherbourg. It's a rather unassuming piece, isn’t it? Editor: Yes, it's essentially a note on paper. The inscription, "top of Bristol Downs," is the only visible feature. The material itself, the paper, feels very basic. It makes me wonder about its intended use. Curator: De Loutherbourg, active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was known for his theatrical set designs and landscapes. Bristol was a key port, and Bristol Downs a popular site. Perhaps a quick notation during a field trip? Editor: Precisely. The work's function could be as a support for a larger project, maybe even a preliminary study. It underscores the labor-intensive processes artists used to create their artworks, it's a material record of that process. Curator: That's a good point. Its existence raises questions about artistic intention and value. I'm left considering the historical context of landscape art and the emerging leisure activities of the period. Editor: And I, as a materialist, see labor materialized.