Pass of Faido c. 19th century

Editor: This is John Ruskin's "Pass of Faido." It's a delicate line drawing. The mountains loom, yet the overall effect feels...peaceful, almost fragile. What do you make of it? Curator: Ruskin's landscapes are never just about aesthetics. Consider the industrial revolution happening during his time. Doesn't this serene depiction of nature, untouched by factories, read as a subtle act of resistance? Editor: Resistance? I hadn't thought of it that way. So, you're saying his choice of subject is a political statement? Curator: Precisely. Ruskin saw beauty as inherently linked to morality and social justice. By idealizing nature, he implicitly critiqued the destructive forces of industrialization and societal imbalance. Editor: That gives me a completely different way to look at this! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It's crucial to understand the social context within which an artwork exists.