The Beetle and Wedge. Moulsford before 1891

This is an anonymous print entitled 'The Beetle and Wedge. Moulsford' of unknown date, found within the pages of a book. It depicts a tranquil river scene in the English countryside, but let's consider what might be unseen, unsaid. Whose labor built the idyllic structures along the riverbank, and who is absent from this leisure scene? In whose voice are these stories told? There's a dialogue here between nature and industry, between the visible ease of some and the invisible labor of others. While the print offers a picturesque view, it perhaps also invites us to reflect on the complex socio-economic structures that shape our perceptions of beauty and leisure. It's a quiet scene, but one that speaks volumes if we listen closely.