The Loire Valley c. 20th century

Editor: This is Herman Armour Webster’s "The Loire Valley," and I'm immediately struck by the stark contrast between the detailed foreground and the ethereal sky. It’s almost moody, don't you think? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely. It's like a memory, isn't it? Webster’s use of line in the etching process really captures the way light plays across the French landscape. The eye wanders from the heavy rain shower to the sunlit fields, like a journey. Do you feel that sense of movement? Editor: Definitely! It’s like my eyes are constantly shifting. I didn't really notice the rain at first! Curator: Exactly! Webster was a master of suggestion, inviting us to complete the scene with our own imagination. The landscape becomes a mirror for our own internal weather, doesn't it? Editor: I love that idea! I’ll never look at a landscape the same way again. Thanks.