A Waterfall in a Gorge 1782

Editor: So, this wash drawing, "A Waterfall in a Gorge," comes to us from Frances Scott who lived in the late 1700s, early 1800s. It feels... overwhelming! The cliffs just loom. What was Scott trying to capture here? Curator: It's a good question! I think it’s all about that Romantic era obsession with the sublime – that feeling of awe mixed with a bit of terror. The wildness of nature, a power much greater than us all. See how the waterfall is just a sliver compared to the rocks? It’s kind of humbling, isn’t it? Editor: Humbling, definitely. And a little scary, now that you mention it! Curator: Exactly! Maybe Scott felt a bit like an ant staring up at all that rock. Makes you think about your place in the world, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does. I guess "overwhelming" was the right word after all.