The Abbey Pool c. 19th century

Editor: This is John Cousen’s "The Abbey Pool," housed here at Harvard. The print is quite small, but the scene feels monumental. What do you see in this piece in terms of its cultural significance? Curator: I see a romanticized view of rural life. The abbey, likely dissolved during the Reformation, is now a picturesque ruin. Note how the scene is carefully composed to evoke nostalgia for a pre-industrial past, and how the inclusion of livestock drinking creates a kind of pastoral scene. Cousen uses the imagery of the Abbey to create a statement about the changing world at the time. Editor: It's interesting how ruins can carry so much cultural weight. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Indeed. It gives us a glimpse into the past and its impact.