House among Trees 

James Ward made this wash drawing, "House among Trees", during his lifetime, spanning from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. At this time the art world in Britain was starting to exhibit landscape paintings in public galleries. The image here is not grand or imposing. Ward is not trying to emulate the aristocratic patrons of earlier generations. Here, we see instead, a modest dwelling surrounded by a wooden fence. In this period new wealth was being made by the industrial classes. This new money drove the growth of London and other major cities. People wanted a house in the country as a safe haven. With its subdued tones and soft lines, the artwork evokes a sense of tranquility and retreat from the world. It is not overtly political, but we might consider it as self-consciously conservative because it is an attempt to preserve a particular vision of rural life. To gain a deeper understanding of this drawing we could examine estate records, architectural surveys, and social histories of rural England during the Industrial Revolution. These sources can help us contextualize art's meaning and purpose.