Elm, Ash, and Oak 1850

Curator: Hmm, this page of studies by James Duffield Harding, "Elm, Ash, and Oak," drawn around 1850, feels almost like a botanical sampler. Editor: It does have a certain charm, though the overall effect is quite subdued, almost spectral. I wonder about the choice of trees, so emblematic. Curator: Harding's interest lies, I think, in revealing the underlying structure of the landscape. Trees, being such ancient symbols of life, carry a certain weight, don't they? Editor: Absolutely, the elm for its protective associations, ash connected to Yggdrasil, the World Tree... and oak, of course, the king, the stalwart. Curator: And notice how each is meticulously rendered, yet there's still an expressive, almost restless quality to the lines. He's not just documenting; he's feeling his way through the forms. Editor: A wonderful reminder that even the most detailed sketches can reveal the artist's own inner landscape. A meditation on growth and interconnectedness, perhaps?