The Devil’s Bridge and Schöllenen Gorge, after J.M.W. Turner 1893

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "The Devil’s Bridge and Schöllenen Gorge, after J.M.W. Turner." It's quite dramatic! I'm struck by how the bridge seems almost swallowed by the landscape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering Ross's dependence on Turner as source material, how might we examine the relationship between labor and the sublime landscape as a commodity in the art market of his time? We must consider how the social and economic forces of the time shape our perception and understanding of nature itself. Editor: I see. So, it's not just about the bridge or the gorge, but also about the artist's labor and the commercialization of the image? Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to question the values attributed to both artistic production and the natural world it represents. Editor: That’s a very different lens through which to see this watercolor! Curator: Indeed. It challenges us to think beyond the picturesque.