Sunset c. 19th century

Curator: There’s a remarkable stillness to this piece, isn't there? It feels melancholic and contemplative. Editor: It does. We are looking at "Sunset," a work from the 19th century by William Miller, housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s an etching, among other media, a print even a drawing, a landscape made via wood-engraving that shows quiet majesty. Curator: That soft, almost smudged quality is incredibly evocative. What symbols speak to you most strongly here? Editor: The setting sun, undeniably. It’s a universal symbol for endings, for reflection. And here, it's rendered so delicately, almost swallowed by the approaching darkness. But is it also a sign of the new beginnings promised with each rising sun? The liminal space in landscape reflects humanity’s temporal place within something much larger and longer lived. Curator: That makes me think of the broader context of landscape art at this time. Images of nature like this served to shape a sense of national identity, and project the unique character of the American landscape. What kind of audience do you think the image was aimed at? What was the role of a wood engraving at that time? Editor: Indeed, landscapes at the time captured the perceived ethos and cultural sensibilities of an evolving nation, helping define how people related to it. In this case, the small-scale of this engraving could mean that it would be suitable for widespread circulation. Miller used it to spread not only ideas of national pride, but also nostalgia and quiet beauty. Curator: It’s true that this would probably appeal to a broad audience thanks to those soft, atmospheric qualities. What lingers with you the most when you look at it? Editor: I’m drawn back to that small band of light on the horizon. The light that suggests hope amid the encroaching darkness. It seems a timeless meditation on change. How about you? Editor: Its power as a piece of public art speaks to me – how it was conceived as such, to bring some sense of serenity to the masses as it did at the time of its creation, and still continues to do now.