The Waterfall 1910

Curator: This watercolor work is James Dickson Innes's "The Waterfall," currently held in the Tate Collections. The support measures 286 by 394 millimeters. Editor: It has a somewhat mournful quality, doesn’t it? That brooding sky casting a pall over the tumbling water and dark rocks. Curator: Indeed. The composition emphasizes a dynamic interplay between the horizontal flow of the water and the verticality of the rocks and sky. Note how Innes manipulates the tonal values to suggest depth and recession. Editor: The use of blues and browns creates a compelling tension. I almost feel a sense of urgency, like nature is about to unleash its full fury. Curator: Absolutely. Innes's skillful application of watercolor allows for a fluidity that mirrors the subject matter. Editor: It reminds me that even in the face of chaos, there is always a certain stark, even brutal, beauty. Curator: A poignant observation.