Gezicht op Cilgerran Castle before 1867

This photogravure of Cilgerran Castle by Charles Allen presents a muted, sepia-toned view that evokes a sense of historical distance. The composition focuses on the castle ruins perched atop a hill, its crumbling structure a testament to time's passage. Allen masterfully uses light and shadow to articulate form. The soft, diffused light creates subtle gradations, accentuating the texture of the stone and the contours of the landscape. The image is structured around a tension between the solid, geometric forms of the castle and the organic, undulating lines of the hill. This juxtaposition creates a dynamic interplay between the man-made and the natural, questioning our perception of permanence and decay. The photogravure technique itself contributes to the artwork's meaning. The process, which involves etching and inking a copper plate, lends the image a tactile quality, mirroring the rough texture of the castle ruins. Allen’s focus on the structural elements invites us to contemplate how such forms shape not just the physical landscape but also our understanding of history and memory.