Making the Splice between the Shore End and the Ocean Cable 1861 - 1871

Editor: Here we have Robert Charles Dudley's "Making the Splice between the Shore End and the Ocean Cable," created sometime between 1861 and 1871. It looks like a black and white painting depicting a flurry of activity on what I assume is a ship. The mood feels industrial and very masculine. What grabs your attention most about this piece? Curator: Ah, this piece… it throws me back to a time of great ambition and, dare I say, romanticism tied to technology. For me, it’s all about the story it whispers: the laying of the transatlantic cable. The black and white palette almost heightens that feeling of looking back into the mists of history, like a faded daguerreotype. Do you notice the almost documentary style, but then there’s a painterly looseness about it all? Editor: I see what you mean about the documentary style, it does feel like we're witnessing a historical moment frozen in time. But I guess the romanticism escapes me a bit…It all feels very… busy and chaotic! Curator: Perhaps! But that chaos *is* the romance, don’t you think? It is an exciting collision of human endeavor against the vast backdrop of the ocean! Plus, look closely – the rigging of the ship is like lace against the sky! And doesn't it evoke how radical this was in practice? How messy? The artist invites us to reflect not just on accomplishment, but the feverish grit required to pull it off! I find that to be a much more interesting proposition than simply depicting the finished product. Editor: I hadn't thought about the "messiness" as part of the story, but that actually changes my perspective a lot! Curator: Exactly! Art should be like a well-placed splash of salt water to the face - invigorating, thought provoking and slightly disorienting. It’s about discovering those hidden depths, right? Editor: Definitely. Thanks, I learned so much!