Lake Nemi c. 1783 - 1788

Editor: This is John Robert Cozens' "Lake Nemi" from the Tate Collections. The washes of color give it such a serene, almost melancholy feel. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious landscape? Curator: I see Cozens lost in a daydream, painting not just a place, but a feeling, a memory. The way he layers the washes, it's like veils of emotion blurring the sharp edges of reality. It’s as if he is asking us: can a landscape be a portrait of the soul? Editor: That’s beautiful. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I see it now. Curator: The hazy light isn't just atmospheric; it’s a reflection of his inner world, don't you think? Perhaps a longing for something lost or never possessed? Editor: Definitely food for thought. I'll never look at a landscape the same way!