Barnard Castle c. 19th century

Editor: This is James Tibbits Willmore's "Barnard Castle," an engraving. It has such a detailed, almost photographic quality. What's striking to you about the piece? Curator: The intricate labor that goes into engraving allows Willmore to translate the stone of the castle and the rushing water into a commodity. This image then becomes a stand-in for the lived experience of the landscape, circulating through the market. Editor: That’s a great way to put it. I hadn't thought of the image itself as a kind of product. Curator: Consider also the paper, ink, and tools. Each element represents a layer of human intervention and economic exchange. Editor: This makes me rethink how I see landscape art in general. Curator: Exactly. The artist transforms natural beauty into a tangible object with its own history of production and consumption.