Lillebonne Chateau and Town c. 19th century

Editor: This is Thomas Jeavons' "Lillebonne Chateau and Town," a print housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so detailed, almost dreamlike. What symbols jump out at you? Curator: The Chateau, prominently displayed, serves as a symbol of enduring power. Notice how the town nestles beneath it; a visual representation of protection, but perhaps also subjugation. What feeling does the landscape itself evoke? Editor: A sense of distance, maybe even isolation. Curator: Precisely. Landscapes often mirror inner states. This distance might reflect a detachment from the past, or perhaps a yearning for a simpler time, viewed through the lens of memory. History isn't just about recounting events, but also about feeling them. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. I see the cultural weight more clearly now.