Bergkam aan het Meer van Genève 1829 - 1900

John Ruskin made this watercolor, Bergkam aan het Meer van Genève, using watercolor and graphite on paper. It depicts the Swiss Alps with the artist’s characteristic attention to geological detail. Ruskin was deeply interested in the physicality of the world. Here, he uses the fluidity of watercolor to capture the play of light on the mountain's surface. The washes of color mimic the weathering processes that shape the peaks and valleys. Graphite adds definition, emphasizing the structure beneath the landscape. Ruskin's meticulous approach mirrors the slow, patient work of nature itself. Ruskin came to see artworks like this as a source of moral and social good. He believed that by truly observing the world, we could gain insight into its underlying harmony, thereby enriching not only ourselves but society as a whole. This piece challenges us to consider the value of close observation and the importance of craft in understanding the world around us.