Inside View of Chepstow Castle 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Francis Chesham's "Inside View of Chepstow Castle," likely from 1779. It feels so staged, almost like theatre. What social dynamics do you think Chesham is trying to capture here? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this work as a staged performance. The castle, often associated with power and control, is shown from an "inside view," yet populated with figures seemingly oblivious to its historical significance. Think about how landscape art in the late 18th century often served to naturalize class divisions; does this image reproduce that dynamic or challenge it? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. Thanks for opening my eyes! Curator: Of course. Examining art through these lenses helps us reveal power structures that are not always visible on the surface.