View of the Valley of Lauterbrunnen Possibly 1866

Editor: Here we have John Ruskin's "View of the Valley of Lauterbrunnen." It's a landscape in muted tones. The textures and raw materials are almost palpable. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: The toned paper support is crucial. Ruskin's rapid strokes emphasize the geological processes, the very making of this landscape through erosion and time. The materiality speaks to Ruskin's social critique of industrialization. Editor: So, you're saying the materials themselves tell a story about Ruskin's values? Curator: Precisely. Consider the contrast: Ruskin meticulously studies natural processes, while industry transforms raw materials into commodities, distancing people from the origins of production. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll definitely look at landscapes differently from now on! Curator: Indeed. Art provides a lens to view the intersection of nature, labor, and societal values.