Berglandschap in Capel Curig te Wales c. 1863 - 1917

Wilfred Williams Ball created this landscape in Wales using etching techniques. Dominating the scene are the mountains, serving as a backdrop to the reflective waters and rugged foreground. The mountain motif has historically been used to symbolize permanence, challenge, and spiritual aspiration. In the Romantic era, mountains embodied the sublime, stirring deep emotions of awe and reverence. We can trace this symbolism across centuries, from the sacred mountains in ancient mythologies, like Mount Olympus, to the monumental landscapes painted by Caspar David Friedrich. Each depicts the mountain as a site of introspection and divine encounter. In Ball's landscape, this enduring symbol resonates, linking our modern gaze to primal human responses and the collective subconscious, echoing the enduring power of nature.