Pont-en-Royans c. 19th century

Editor: This is Edward Levy Montefiore's print, Pont-en-Royans. It depicts a village nestled amongst some rocky cliffs and lots of foliage. The buildings seem almost precarious. What sociopolitical narratives do you think this work engages? Curator: This print offers a glimpse into the romanticisation of rural life versus the realities of urban expansion. Consider how the picturesque framing might mask the socioeconomic struggles of those living in such isolated locales. Editor: So, it's less about the beauty and more about what it obscures? Curator: Precisely. How does the artist's positionality, likely an outsider, influence the narrative? Whose stories are being told, and whose are being left out? Editor: I hadn’t considered that. Thinking about whose perspective is privileged really changes how I see this piece. Curator: Art becomes more compelling when viewed through these intersectional lenses.