A Large Tree over Water 

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Alexander Cozens' work, "A Large Tree over Water," held here at the Tate. It is a brown ink drawing on paper measuring approximately 98 by 140 millimeters. Editor: The sepia tones give it an antiquated feel, almost like looking at a faded photograph, despite it being a landscape. Curator: Indeed. Consider how Cozens uses the dense network of branches to create an almost claustrophobic foreground. The tree's form becomes a screen, layered with tonal variations. Editor: I'm more struck by the texture of the paper and the artist’s hand—you can almost feel the drag of the ink, the labor of repeatedly building up these layers. Curator: The composition directs our gaze beyond, inviting us to contemplate the sublime. Editor: I wonder, what was the material reality of creating such a scene in his time? What was the relationship between the artist, his materials, and the landscape he depicted? Curator: A fascinating interplay of form and representation, regardless. Editor: Absolutely. Food for thought, and a beautiful scene rendered with such palpable materiality.