Hardraw Fall c. 19th century

Editor: This is “Hardraw Fall” by John Pye the Younger, it's an engraving. It feels… romantic, in a way, but also very controlled, like a scientific record. What do you see in it? Curator: It’s interesting you say that. Consider the period's burgeoning interest in landscape as a symbol of national identity. How might this image, distributed through print culture, shape perceptions of the British countryside and its relationship to concepts of progress and power? Editor: So, it’s less about the waterfall itself and more about what it represents to viewers at the time? Curator: Precisely. The waterfall becomes a vehicle for broader social and political narratives. The picturesque here isn't just pretty; it's purposeful. Editor: I see. It’s a constructed image, not just a captured scene. Thanks, that gives me a lot to consider. Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully, the listener will explore how we continue to construct landscape today.