Reproductie van een tekening van een bergpas in Tirol door John Sell Cotman before 1889

Editor: We’re looking at a reproduction of a drawing by John Sell Cotman of a mountain pass in Tyrol, dating from before 1889. It’s an etching or print, I think, on paper. There’s such drama! The steep valley, the precarious bridge…it all feels very Romantic. What captures your attention most in this piece? Curator: That’s a brilliant starting point! It’s true; there's a certain grandness and a bit of that “sublime” feeling we associate with Romanticism – you know, that awe mixed with terror when facing nature’s overwhelming power. But for me, it’s Cotman's understated hand, the seeming ease with which he captured this scene that truly speaks. Almost like a sketch from a travel journal. Editor: So, more immediacy than calculated grandeur? Curator: Precisely. While the scene itself evokes the Romantic era’s ideals, Cotman’s method appears less performative, more personal. Does that change your perception at all? Editor: Definitely! It feels less staged now, like a candid moment he jotted down. Were such scenes popular at the time? Curator: Oh, absolutely. Think of the rise of tourism, especially among the wealthy. The Alps were a major draw. But where someone like Turner might paint these landscapes with almost theatrical flair, Cotman brings a kind of quiet observation. It invites you into his experience rather than putting on a show. I like to imagine he had a flask of something warm stashed in his pack! Editor: So interesting to consider intention and context. I think I appreciate the image much more knowing that. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's pieces like this that constantly remind us how artists can subtly shift our view of the world, and hopefully, ourselves too.