Narborough (Hall?), Norfolk c. 19th century

Curator: This ink wash drawing is titled "Narborough (Hall?), Norfolk," attributed to John Sell Cotman. Editor: It evokes such quiet, a sense of faded grandeur. The vast lawn receding to the house—it's both inviting and a little lonely, isn't it? Curator: The image presents an interesting dynamic between the estate and its inhabitants. These depictions often reinforced social hierarchies of the era. Editor: You know, I almost missed those tiny figures toiling in the fields. Suddenly, the peace feels… different. It’s a constructed peace. Curator: Exactly! The image performs as both a picturesque landscape and an assertion of landed power, reflecting the complexities inherent in representing property and labor. Editor: It's funny how a simple sketch can hold so much. Seeing it through that lens, it makes me wonder what stories are really buried in that soil.