Surrey Side of the River - Grey Day c. 1886

Curator: Paul Maitland's "Surrey Side of the River - Grey Day" offers a subtle, almost ghostly, view of the Thames. Editor: It's so muted, isn't it? It feels like a half-remembered dream. The river seems to swallow the buildings whole. Curator: Precisely. This lack of sharp detail encourages a focus on the mood. Grey days are deeply symbolic of introspection. Editor: I suppose. To me, the whole painting shimmers with a kind of melancholic peace. It's strangely beautiful, even in its quietness. Curator: The Thames has long been a cultural touchstone for artists and writers—representing time, change, and the ebb and flow of life. Editor: True, and Maitland’s captured something timeless here. It makes you wonder about all the stories the river has silently witnessed.