Harwich Harbour, Essex 1913

Frederick George Cotman painted 'Harwich Harbour, Essex,' likely toward the end of the 19th century. In this period the Royal Academy dominated British art and artists often looked to nature. Here, Cotman has adopted a traditional landscape format: a high vantage point, picturesque foreground, and panoramic view. Note that his choice of location, Harwich, was then a busy port, a hub of Britain's international trade. Despite the hive of activity on the water, Cotman focuses on the land and its resources. He frames the ships with an idyllic foreground of grazing sheep and verdant hills. The composition celebrates England's natural resources, as well as the economic activity that was the source of Britain's power and prestige. In understanding this painting we can look to shipping records, economic data, and even period literature. All of these resources help us see how paintings like this one reflect a wider culture.