Mountain Landscape with a Hollow c. 1770

Alexander Cozens created this "Mountain Landscape with a Hollow" using pen and brown ink with brown wash in the late 18th century. Cozens, rumored to be the illegitimate son of Peter the Great, lived during a time of strict social hierarchies. Here, the sublime power of nature is portrayed through the lens of class and identity. Note how the landscape is both inviting and imposing. The hollow in the foreground could represent the hidden depths and complexities within society and perhaps the hidden aspects of identity and social standing. In this period the picturesque was more than just aesthetics; it was deeply intertwined with ownership and class. Cozens' landscape invites us to consider the relationship between our identities and the environments we inhabit. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and contemplate the layered social structures that shape our perceptions.