Study of a Gurnard c. 1840

Curator: Looking at this watercolour, you might think it’s some pastel dream, but it's actually J.M.W. Turner’s "Study of a Gurnard." Editor: It feels strangely delicate, almost as if the fish is dissolving into the water, or perhaps ascending into some ethereal plane. Curator: Turner's knack for atmosphere, right? Notice how he uses washes to capture the fish's form with such minimal detail. It's less about scientific accuracy, more about capturing essence. Editor: True, the chromatic scale is limited, yet the subtle gradations imbue the subject with such vitality. It's not just a fish; it's a study of light, of form, of mortality. Curator: Right! He probably wasn't aiming for photorealism. Turner was interested in the sublime, and I think he found it even in the humble gurnard. Editor: Well, that gives me a newfound appreciation for fish! I find myself pondering the impermanence of being, all thanks to Turner's aquatic musings.