At Nunnery in Cumberland 1786

Editor: This is "At Nunnery in Cumberland," a watercolor and ink drawing by Joseph Farington, created in 1786. It has this delicate, almost ethereal quality, and the way the trees frame the water... it's so balanced. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: Consider the meticulous layering of forms, the contrast between the textured rocks and the delicate tracery of the foliage. Observe how Farington uses line to define space and mass, directing our eye through the composition. It adheres strictly to landscape conventions from that period. What is your opinion? Editor: I agree, the layering is incredible, but what about the colour palette? The muted tones seem to subdue any strong emotion. It's more observational than expressive, right? Curator: The restricted palette certainly contributes to the overall effect, it allows one to view this "reality" as not necessarily reality, but closer to a removed memory, what do you perceive as a viewer as your focus? Editor: It would be on the water that flows straight through to the tiny human form barely visible in the background; although it could just as easily have been the rock cliffs! Perhaps it could depend on your current mood? Curator: The ambiguity is integral to its formalism. The focus on the structure, the lines, forms, tones creates something deeper than its subject would naturally propose. This is due in no small part to a strict adhering to visual codes. Editor: So, even though it appears to be a simple landscape, the formal qualities elevate it? I appreciate learning how those elements come together. Curator: Indeed, examining how Farington manipulates visual elements offers us the potential to reach more complex forms of appreciation beyond simply acknowledging historical records or place. I would argue it shows there's meaning encoded in every artist's handiwork, consciously or otherwise.