The Hill above Harlech c. 1917

Editor: Here we have "The Hill above Harlech" by Sir William Nicholson. The patchwork fields in the foreground are quite striking. What can you tell me about this landscape from a material perspective? Curator: Observe how Nicholson simplifies the land into these flattened, almost manufactured shapes. This reflects a changing relationship between humans and the environment through agricultural production and consumption of the land. Editor: So, it's less about the beauty of nature, and more about its use? Curator: Precisely. Consider the labor invested in shaping these fields, the materials extracted, and the social systems that supported their production. That's what interests me here. Editor: I hadn't considered the work behind the landscape itself. Thanks! Curator: It's about seeing beyond the surface. Materiality shapes our world and therefore our art.