Land’s End, Cornwall, engraved by J.W. Kernot 1836

Editor: This is "Land's End, Cornwall," an engraving by Clarkson Stanfield. The jagged rocks jutting out into the sea feel so imposing. What story do you think this landscape is trying to tell? Curator: I see the romanticization of nature mirroring England’s colonial ambitions. The stoic lighthouse and distant ship underscore a narrative of dominance, yet the untamed rocks hint at nature's resistance. How does this tension inform our understanding of national identity? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me think about who is included and excluded from this idea of national identity. Curator: Exactly. By examining the cultural context, we can uncover whose stories are prioritized, and whose are silenced, within these seemingly straightforward landscape depictions. Editor: I'll definitely keep that in mind moving forward. Curator: It provides crucial awareness for thinking about art in the present.