The River of Southampton c. 19th century

Editor: This is Auguste Anastasi's "The River of Southampton." It's a monochrome print, and I'm struck by how it captures a specific time and place with such detail. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a record of material processes and social realities. Consider the labor involved in creating this print – the engraver's skill, the printing process itself. How does it democratize landscape imagery, making it accessible beyond painted canvases for elite patrons? Editor: So, the print is as much about the making and distribution as it is about the river itself? Curator: Precisely. And what can the depiction of the river, the boats, and the animals, tell us about economic activities and the relationship between humans and the environment at that time? Thinking about production really opens this up. Editor: I see what you mean. I'll have to consider the social implications of artmaking more closely in the future.