Rocks and Trees 

Curator: This is William James Müller’s watercolour, "Rocks and Trees," currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: I find it rather bleak, almost desolate—those bare trees reaching against the stormy sky. Curator: Müller was known for his rapid watercolour technique; notice how he uses the medium to capture the textures of the rocks. It really emphasizes the physical landscape. Editor: And consider the social backdrop. Early 19th-century art often romanticized nature, but here, nature seems indifferent, even hostile, reflecting perhaps anxieties around industrialization and displacement. Curator: Indeed, the making of landscape art at this time connects with growing industrialization and changing landscape perceptions. Editor: The starkness definitely challenges the idyllic landscapes often associated with the period. It makes you think about our relationship with the environment. Curator: A very interesting and complex relationship when seen through this depiction, I agree.