Landscape 

Editor: This is "Landscape," a sepia drawing by David Cox, from the Tate. It's so small, but it feels expansive. There’s a lone figure in the distance. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The sepia wash evokes a particular historical context, doesn't it? Think about the rise of picturesque tourism in the 19th century. How does Cox’s landscape fit into that commercial appetite for idealized views of nature? Editor: So, it's more than just a pretty scene? It's almost like a postcard? Curator: Exactly! Cox is selling a vision. How does the composition guide the viewer, and what is it selling about the British countryside? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. It makes me question the intention behind the landscape. Curator: Precisely. Art is never created in a vacuum. Considering these aspects gives us a deeper appreciation.