West Gate, Canterbury, engraved by J. Peake Possibly 1782

Editor: This is "West Gate, Canterbury," an 18th-century engraving by J. Peake after a work from the British School, currently held at the Tate. It's quite detailed for an engraving! What stands out to you? Curator: The method of production itself is key here. Engraving, as a reproducible medium, democratized images of places like Canterbury. How does this accessibility alter the perception and value of the depicted architecture, once only experienced by a select few? Editor: So, the *making* of the image changes its meaning? Curator: Precisely. Consider the economic forces at play – the engraver's labor, the distribution networks, and the consumption of these images by a burgeoning middle class. It transforms the gate from a symbol of power to a commodity. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It's more than just a picture; it's a product. Curator: Exactly. Examining the material conditions reveals a whole new layer of interpretation.