Philates 1856

Editor: This is Edward Lear’s "Philates", a watercolor from 1856, currently in the Tate. I’m struck by the delicate rendering of the landscape, the pale colors making the mountains seem almost dreamlike. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: The composition is fascinating; the artist has structured the landscape into distinct planes through a masterful use of line and wash. Notice how the eye is directed into the valley through the converging diagonals and the subtle shifts in tonal value. Editor: I see what you mean about the planes, the shading emphasizes the depth. Curator: Precisely. Lear seems interested in the intrinsic structure of the landscape itself, reducing it to its essential forms. It highlights the skeletal structure, doesn't it? Editor: It does. I hadn't considered how the artist isolated the structural components of the scenery. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. It's in closely observing these elements that we gain a deeper understanding.