Cliff End, Weybourne [recto] c. 1970

John Northcote Nash made this watercolour painting, Cliff End, Weybourne, at an unknown date. The scene depicts a quiet stretch of the English coastline. But how might we connect this tranquil image to its wider cultural context? Nash painted this landscape in a recognisably modern style. Modernism was more than just a style: it signified a changing relationship between the artist and the world. In the 19th century, artists had often been tied to the Academy, an institution that promoted a conservative style of painting. By the early 20th century, artists had more freedom than ever before. This freedom, however, came with a challenge. Modern artists had to find new ways to connect with an audience. Many, like Nash, turned to landscape painting as a way of celebrating national identity. Art historians often use archival resources like exhibition catalogues and artists' letters to understand these shifts in art and society. The meaning of a landscape painting lies not just in its beauty, but in its connection to a specific place and time.