Castle on Shore n.d.

Thomas Girtin made "Castle on Shore" with graphite on paper. Girtin came of age during a time of immense social and political change in England. As such, his landscapes reflect shifting notions of national identity and the sublimity of the natural world. In this sketch, Girtin captures a stark scene of a castle perched on a rugged shore. The graphite lines create a sense of both solidity and transience, capturing the emotional state of the sublime. What emerges isn't just an image of a castle, but a meditation on history, power, and place. How do we reconcile the desire for a fixed identity with the shifting sands of time and place? This image prompts us to reflect on our own relationship to the landscapes that shape our sense of self.