Cottage at Northfleet, Kent c. 1810

David Cox made this watercolor sketch, Cottage at Northfleet, Kent, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. With thin washes of diluted pigment suspended in water, brushed onto paper, Cox captured a commonplace scene of domestic life. The way that the materials behave here is critical. Watercolor tends to pool and flow according to gravity, following the texture of the paper. The artist used these qualities to suggest the dampness of the climate, and perhaps also the humble texture of the cottage itself. The linen hung out to dry further emphasizes the sense of daily labor. Think for a moment about the social context. Cox was not painting a grand estate, but the home of working people. By choosing this subject, and by using the quick, accessible medium of watercolor, he democratized the art of landscape. This reflected a broader trend in the 19th century, in which everyday life became a worthy subject for artistic attention, challenging the traditional hierarchies of art.