The Tower from the Thames 1901

Editor: This is Joseph Pennell's "The Tower from the Thames." The printmaking technique gives it such a gritty, industrial feel. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The etching process itself is crucial. Think about the labor involved, the acid biting into the metal. It democratizes image production, moving away from unique paintings and instead offering more affordable views of iconic structures. How might this mass production impact perceptions of the Tower itself? Editor: So it's about the means of making it, not just what's depicted? I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. The consumption of these images, then, becomes a lens through which to understand early twentieth-century society.