Italian Landscape 

Editor: This is George Cooper’s "Italian Landscape," a wash drawing from the Tate. The light and shadow create a sense of depth, but it feels a bit romanticized. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on the relationship between the powerful and the pastoral, Editor. The architectural elements hint at structures of control, while the seemingly untouched landscape speaks to a longing for freedom. Who benefits from this idealized vision, and whose stories are absent? Editor: That's a good question. I hadn't considered the power dynamics. It does seem to flatten the realities of labor and social hierarchy. Curator: Exactly. We have to ask ourselves, "Whose Italy is this?" Whose gaze shaped this representation? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks, this helps contextualize the image. Curator: Glad to help. Let's keep questioning.