Waterfall in a Desolate Landscape 

John Sell Cotman's "Waterfall in a Desolate Landscape" is a Romantic watercolor painting characterized by its dramatic use of light and shadow. The painting depicts a rugged, mountainous landscape with a waterfall cascading down a rocky precipice. The prominent tree trunk, its branches reaching toward the sky, adds a sense of mystery and grandeur to the scene. Cotman's use of watercolor, with its flowing, translucent qualities, creates a sense of atmospheric depth and a moody, evocative atmosphere. This artwork demonstrates Cotman’s interest in capturing the grandeur of nature in a picturesque and dramatic fashion.