The Feugh 

Joseph Farquharson created this painting of the Feugh river during a period of significant social and environmental change in Scotland. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw increased industrialization and urbanization, impacting rural landscapes and traditional ways of life. Farquharson, as a landscape painter, was part of a broader cultural movement romanticizing the Scottish Highlands as a space of unspoiled natural beauty. Yet, this romantic vision often obscured the realities of land use, class divisions, and the displacement of communities. In this painting, the rushing water contrasts with the stillness of the surrounding rocks and forest. There is an emotional tension between the transient force of the river and the enduring presence of the land. Consider how Farquharson's choice to focus on the landscape reflects his emotional response to a changing Scotland, perhaps mourning the loss of a perceived simpler time. The scene invites us to reflect on our own relationship with nature and the impact of progress on the environment.