Travellers Crossing a Bridge over an Alpine Gorge c. 1828

John Sell Cotman made this drawing of travellers crossing a bridge in the Alps with pencil. At the time Cotman made this work, the Alps were becoming a popular destination for wealthy Europeans on the 'Grand Tour.' But, think about who could afford to travel and who was left behind. The sublime, awe-inspiring nature celebrated in art was only accessible to a select few, while many others were bound to the landscapes of their birth by poverty and circumstance. Cotman’s sketch shows us a moment of transit, but it also subtly underscores the socio-economic divides of his time. The delicate lines capture not just the majesty of the mountains, but also hint at the complex relationship between travel, privilege, and the romanticization of nature. We can ponder the lives of those travellers, their stories and status, as they journeyed across the bridge.