Chepstow Castle 1777

Curator: This is Paul Sandby's "Chepstow Castle", a print rendering the eponymous fortress. There's a lovely pastoral scene occupying the foreground... Editor: It's gentle, almost wistful. The sepia tones lend it a nostalgic air, like a faded memory of a picnic long past. Curator: Indeed, Sandby was a master of aquatint, a printmaking technique that mimics the look of watercolor. He really exploits its tonal range here. Look at how the light filters through those trees! He probably used nitric acid and resin to etch the plate. Editor: It really softens the architecture; the castle feels less like a symbol of power and more like another element in the landscape, a quaint ruin for contemplation. I wonder about the people depicted, are they enjoying leisure afforded by industry? Curator: Perhaps. Sandby was fascinated by the picturesque, finding beauty in the everyday. I always feel a kind of serene detachment when I look at this piece, a quiet invitation to pause and reflect. Editor: Absolutely. It prompts us to consider our relationship with both nature and history, and the way they’re interwoven.