Landscape, Cliffs and Trees 

Curator: What a striking, almost monochromatic sketch. It's called Landscape, Cliffs and Trees by Rev. William Gilpin. Editor: The light and shadow certainly create a dramatic effect. The composition feels carefully arranged, almost theatrical. Curator: Gilpin, who lived from 1724 to 1804, was quite influential in the picturesque movement. He thought landscapes should be composed like paintings. Editor: Exactly. Notice how the trees frame the cliffs and water, guiding the eye through the scene. The artist wants us to have a specific, controlled experience. Curator: Indeed. It speaks to an upper class consumption of the landscape, re-packaged for aesthetic pleasure, like a stage set. Editor: Still, regardless of its cultural context, the tonal range is so effective, and it makes for a compelling work, even now. Curator: It's a window into the period's attitude toward nature as art. Editor: A very carefully constructed window.