Cupsuptic Lake, Maine Possibly 1878

Curator: This is Benjamin Champney’s "Cupsuptic Lake, Maine," a delicate pencil drawing. It's a small work, about the size of a postcard. Editor: It feels incredibly fragile, almost like a whisper of a landscape. The mountains in the background are barely there, just a few faint lines. Curator: Champney was a key figure in the White Mountain School, known for their romantic landscapes. Here, he captures a quiet, almost ethereal scene. Editor: The simplicity is striking. The composition directs my eye to the horizon, and then subtly down to the delicate reflections in the water. Do you think the paper’s aging is part of its appeal? Curator: Perhaps. It adds to the sense of history, doesn't it? It’s a reminder of the passage of time, of Champney's era. Editor: It’s lovely. It makes me want to pack a bag and head straight to Maine. Curator: For me, it’s the way he’s captured the essence of the lake with so few strokes, an economy of expression. It's a masterful sketch. Editor: Yes, a reminder that sometimes, less truly is more.