Ullswater from Pooley Bridge c. 18th century

Curator: Ah, look at this print, "Ullswater from Pooley Bridge" by Samuel Middiman, who lived from 1751 to 1831. Editor: It feels so still, doesn't it? Like the world is holding its breath. The light is gorgeous; everything seems touched by a gentle, dreamy filter. Curator: The picturesque aesthetic was quite fashionable at the time, emphasizing idealized landscapes and charming rural scenes. Middiman really captures that here, doesn’t he? Editor: Absolutely! But I also feel a sense of… restraint? It’s lovely, but almost too perfect. As if nature is being curated, tidied up. Curator: That's the point, in a way. The picturesque aimed to refine nature, to make it beautiful according to certain conventions. It's about control and order. Editor: Right. Even though I feel like it's so calm, I now start to wonder what isn't depicted. I guess beauty can be a bit deceptive sometimes. Curator: Precisely. It really makes you think about the role of artifice in our perception of nature.