View of Tryfan and a Bridge over the Rier Ogwen c. 1786 - 1800

Curator: This is Philip James De Loutherbourg's "View of Tryfan and a Bridge over the Rier Ogwen." Editor: The rapid, almost frenetic line work captures a sense of wildness, a landscape barely contained. It feels urgent. Curator: Indeed. De Loutherbourg, active in the late 18th century, exploits the raw, gestural quality of ink. Notice how the mountains are rendered with jagged, broken lines, conveying their imposing mass. Editor: And the bridge... it is just hinted at. The labor involved in constructing such a thing in this environment--a challenge, really emphasizes the human engagement with the landscape. Curator: Precisely. The economy of line speaks volumes about the sublime and the picturesque—the structured versus the natural. Editor: It makes you consider how our understanding of this landscape is directly influenced by the tools and techniques of its creation. Curator: Agreed. A delicate balance, and expertly wrought.