Abbeville 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Henry Edridge's "Abbeville," made with pen and gray ink and gray wash. I’m struck by how the cathedral looms over everything; it feels both protective and a little intimidating. What draws your eye when you look at this? Curator: The cathedral's imposing presence is key. Consider how similar structures throughout history, like ziggurats or pyramids, function. It represents a connection to something beyond the mundane, a focal point for communal belief. Does the cathedral seem to be more protective or imposing, in your view? Editor: I think it's more imposing. It makes the people look so small. Curator: Precisely! Think of the symbolic weight architecture carries: power, permanence, faith. Edridge captures not just a building, but a complex interplay of societal values projected onto stone. Editor: I never thought about it that way, but that makes perfect sense. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. There's so much to discover in just one image.