On the Banks of the Thames c. 19th century

Editor: This is Arthur Evershed's "On the Banks of the Thames". It's an etching, and it feels very serene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Thames, over time, has symbolized both pastoral calm and bustling industry. Notice the flag. Does it evoke a sense of national pride, perhaps a yearning for simpler times before industrialization irrevocably altered the landscape? Editor: I hadn't considered that. The flag does give it a specific context. Curator: Exactly. How does the wheel’s stillness speak to you? Is it a relic of a bygone era, or a subtle reminder of the ceaseless flow of time and change? Editor: I see both, actually. It's like the past meeting the present. I've certainly learned a new way to look at it. Curator: And I'm reminded how potent simple scenes can be, carrying complex emotional and historical weight.