View of the Augrabies Falls on the Orange River Possibly 1778 - 1779

Editor: Here we have Robert Jacob Gordon's "View of the Augrabies Falls on the Orange River," dating roughly from 1778-1779. It’s rendered with watercolor, ink, and possibly colored pencil on paper. It gives such a serene, expansive feeling, though the landscape itself looks pretty unforgiving. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Immediately, the rendering of space. Consider how Gordon structures our perception through layered forms. The composition employs a clear foreground, dominated by rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation, which recedes into a middle ground where the falls are only partially visible, before meeting the soft haze of distant mountains. Do you observe the systematic use of line and wash to define form? Editor: I see how the varying line weights give depth. The closer rocks are more defined, and then it gets fainter in the back. It almost feels like the artist is emphasizing the experience of seeing, more than strictly replicating the scene. Curator: Precisely. The texture is achieved with relatively simple means—short, hatched lines for the rocks, diluted washes to imply distance. Notice, the artist isn't necessarily trying to mirror reality but to create a sense of vastness and depth within a limited two-dimensional space. How do the cooler tones in the distance affect your reading? Editor: It pushes it back, and kind of emphasizes the browns and grays of the rocks. It also highlights the little pops of green. The way that it's structured, like a stage almost. It seems less about the specificity of place, and more about creating a feeling. Curator: I concur. It uses strategic arrangement of elements—almost a calculated emotional response from the viewer, prompting them to contemplate this immensity within the visual vocabulary he sets forth. What new aspects of the artwork do you recognize? Editor: Thinking about the formal qualities makes me realize it’s less documentary and more like a carefully orchestrated impression of nature's grandeur. Curator: Indeed. A calculated experience.