The Pass of Pancorbo, The Pyrenees 

David Roberts created this image of the Pass of Pancorbo in the Pyrenees using watercolor paints. The application of watercolor, with its fluid washes and translucent layers, lends itself to the depiction of the landscape's geological forms. Roberts masterfully uses the medium to capture the texture and weight of the monumental rock formations. The layering of washes creates depth and a sense of atmospheric perspective, accentuating the height of the pass. Notice how the light interacts with the rock faces, creating subtle gradations of color and shadow, giving the whole scene a theatrical air. While seemingly straightforward, the process of watercolor painting demands skilled handling and careful observation. The artist is dependent on the flow and absorption of the pigments into the paper, requiring them to work with the material rather than against it. Roberts’s careful attention to the inherent qualities of watercolor, as well as its traditional use for topographical and landscape views, emphasizes that the making and materials are as important as the image itself.