Rocks 

Editor: This drawing, "Rocks," by James Bourne, held at the Tate, presents a meticulously rendered landscape. The way the pencil captures the textures of the rocks is fascinating. What can you tell me about the artist's method and the broader context of this type of work? Curator: Look closely at Bourne’s hatching technique. The labor involved in creating this illusion of depth and texture using only graphite on paper is considerable. It highlights the social value placed on detailed landscape studies and the consumption of such imagery during that period. It makes me wonder about the market for these drawings. Editor: That's a really interesting way to think about it, the artist as a producer of commodities. I hadn't considered it in that way before. Curator: Indeed! Thinking about the materials and methods helps us understand the historical and economic forces at play.