Going up Mount Splügen 1781

Curator: Here we have Francis Towne's watercolor, "Going up Mount Splügen," held at the Tate. Editor: It gives me this odd feeling—like the landscape is watching me. That central rock formation, it's almost anthropomorphic. Curator: Indeed, the rock takes on a very symbolic role. Mountains often represent obstacles or spiritual ascents, but also strength and permanence. Editor: And the small figures winding up the path… their journey looks so precarious compared to the stoic mass of the mountain. Curator: Absolutely. The sublime in nature, so popular with artists of Towne's era, is all about this contrast: humankind versus the overwhelming power of the natural world. Editor: It's less about conquering the mountain, and more about finding your place within its grand story. Curator: Exactly. A tiny road winding its way up, generation after generation. Editor: It is a quiet reminder, isn't it? We are all just passing through.