Waterfall near Ambleside 1786

Editor: This is Francis Towne's "Waterfall near Ambleside." It's watercolor on paper, and I'm struck by how the artist renders the rock textures. What can you tell me about Towne's process here? Curator: Towne’s emphasis on the material rendering of the landscape invites us to consider the labor involved in its representation. How does the watercolor, a readily available commodity, transform the sublime experience of nature into a consumable image? Editor: So, you're saying that the painting itself becomes a product of its time? Curator: Precisely. And by focusing on the materiality of the paint and paper, we can question the traditional hierarchy between art and craft. Does the mass production of art supplies democratize landscape painting, or does it further commodify our relationship with the natural world? Editor: That's a really interesting take. It gives me a lot to think about.