Quadrangle of Magdalen College c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have "Quadrangle of Magdalen College" by C. Rosenberg, a print of an academic building, absent a specific date. It feels very proper and institutional. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Consider the role of institutions like Magdalen College in shaping cultural values. Prints like this served not just as documentation but as promotion, idealizing a particular vision of education and societal order. How do you think this imagery influenced public perception? Editor: I see how it could reinforce the prestige of these institutions. It's like a carefully curated advertisement! Curator: Precisely. The architecture itself, rendered with such precision, embodies power and tradition. It's about visually communicating authority, isn't it? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in those terms before. It's much more than just a pretty picture. Curator: Exactly! It's about the politics of imagery and its role in perpetuating societal norms. Thanks for making me think about this, too.