Landscape with Mill and Bridge 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Francis Nicholson's "Landscape with Mill and Bridge," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the scene's quietness, even with the implied movement of the water. What stands out to you? Curator: The mill points to a very specific moment of production. Consider the labor needed to construct and maintain such a structure, and how the control of water power shaped the local economy. What materials do you think Nicholson used? Editor: It looks like watercolor or ink, judging by the paper. Curator: Exactly. The very accessibility of these materials speaks to a shift in art production and consumption. This was no longer solely the domain of the elite. Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn't thought about the implications of using more readily available materials. Curator: Thinking about the means of production and materiality gives us a more complete view.