Lake of Thun c. 19th century

Editor: This is Turner's "Lake of Thun." It’s a print of a landscape, full of brooding skies and what looks like lightning. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Turner’s landscapes often tap into the sublime, that overwhelming feeling of nature's power. Notice how light pierces through the dark clouds. Lightning, a symbol of divine power, suggests a world beyond human control. Editor: So, the storm isn't just weather; it’s symbolic? Curator: Precisely. Think about the figures on the shore – small, almost imperceptible. They are dwarfed by the immensity of the lake and the mountains. The image might be an allegory for the human condition: fragile and temporary in the face of eternity. Editor: That makes me see the print in a new, more profound way. Thank you!