Dolbadarn Castle 

James Ward made this watercolor landscape of Dolbadarn Castle using paper, pigment, and not much else. The economical means of production makes it almost journalistic, but also shows the influence of the Romantic movement. The thin washes of colour are quickly applied, conveying the dampness of the Welsh landscape, and its stark beauty. The distant castle is a symbol of past conflicts and power, made even more poignant through Ward’s swift, almost ephemeral touch. The choice of watercolor as a medium reflects the desire for immediacy, for capturing a fleeting moment in time, rather than aiming at the grand scale of oil painting. Ward's engagement with the landscape also reflected the changing social context of the time, as the industrial revolution brought new modes of production. While the castle represents old power structures, the speed and ease of watercolor painting embodies a more accessible and democratic form of artistic expression. Looking closely at the materials and process, you begin to question distinctions between fine art and craft, revealing how art can be embedded with cultural meaning and historical context.