Thunder Storm 1774

Editor: So, this is *The Thunder Storm*, an engraving by Paul Revere from 1774. It’s… pretty intense! I mean, you’ve got this really dramatic lightning bolt and these figures huddled under a tree. It’s making me feel a little anxious, to be honest. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Anxiety is spot on! It crackles, doesn’t it? To me, it’s pure, raw Romanticism, a bit before its time even. Think about it: humans dwarfed by nature’s power, a near-religious terror inspired by something beyond our control. Revere, more famous for his midnight ride, captured this moment perfectly in cross-hatched lines and the dramatic sky. Editor: Cross-hatched lines? Curator: Yes, layering lines to create shadow. That’s what builds up the stormy sky and the frightened expressions on their faces! They look almost theatrical. Editor: That's true, there’s a very posed feel about them despite what looks like a moment of imminent peril! Almost like…acting. Was this meant to convey more than just a literal storm? Curator: Precisely! I think he aimed to elicit awe and contemplation. Remember the enlightenment was coming to an end. How does that context shift your interpretation? Editor: Wow. It does. So it is no longer only about the landscape. There’s a conversation being had about reason versus... well, terror, basically. Very cool, thank you! Curator: Exactly! Art often mirrors, or, should I say, engraves our inner weather, doesn't it? Gives one pause, quite like a flash of lightning.