An Old Building with an Oriel Window Converted for Use as a Barn 1805 - 1806

John Sell Cotman rendered this watercolor painting of a repurposed building in the early 19th century. Cotman employed diluted washes of pigment to achieve a hazy, ethereal quality, which was not unusual for watercolor landscape painting. What sets this painting apart is the choice of subject matter. The building itself, likely once a grand residence with its oriel window, has been adapted for agricultural use. This conversion speaks volumes about the changing economic landscape of the time. The very stuff of the painting, the diluted colors, mirrors the dilution of fortunes and shifts in social class. The rough texture of the paper and layering of washes create a sense of weathered history, mirroring the building’s transformation. Cotman's artistic skill lies not only in his ability to capture light and form, but also in his subtle commentary on labor, land use, and the silent narratives embedded within architectural spaces. This invites us to consider the broader social context of artmaking itself, and the value that we assign to different forms of labor.