Martello Towers near Bexhill, Sussex (Liber Studiorum, part VII, plate 34) 1811

This print, Martello Towers near Bexhill, Sussex, is part of Turner’s “Liber Studiorum,” conceived around 1806 and published in installments until 1819. It was made using etching and mezzotint, a printmaking process that allows for rich tonal gradations. The scene depicts the coastal landscape of Sussex, punctuated by the eponymous Martello towers, small defensive forts built in the early 19th century to ward off potential invasion from Napoleonic France. What is especially interesting is the way Turner evokes the materiality of the landscape through his printmaking. Look closely, and you’ll see how the etched lines and mezzotint create a sense of depth, texture, and atmosphere. The towers themselves, rendered in subtle shades of grey, appear solid and imposing against the turbulent sky. In its own way, this print considers how structures impact land, and power is imposed onto both. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between landscape, labor, and nationhood. It reminds us that even seemingly pastoral scenes can be imbued with social and political significance.