Highland Drovers Departing for the South c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Highland Drovers Departing for the South" by James Henry Watt. It depicts a scene of Scottish Highlanders preparing to move livestock. Editor: There's such a palpable sense of displacement here; a farewell frozen in time. It feels very melancholy. Curator: Highland clearances, when tenant farmers were evicted and replaced with sheep, were devastating. This image likely speaks to that forced migration. Editor: The image is filled with symbolic weight. The drovers embody resilience, but the animals...they represent vulnerability and dispossession. Curator: The journey itself was fraught with peril. This image is deeply embedded in socioeconomic and political contexts. Editor: Absolutely. The enduring motifs of departure and the uncertain road ahead continue to resonate across cultures. Curator: It's a reminder of the struggles faced by displaced communities throughout history. Editor: Indeed, and of the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.