The Dead Sea, Jordan 

Edward Lear rendered "The Dead Sea, Jordan" in watercolor, capturing a landscape that's as much a physical place as it is a site loaded with historical and religious narratives. Lear, an Englishman, was known for his landscape drawings, and "The Dead Sea" reflects the 19th-century European fascination with the ‘Orient.’ However, his work offers more than just a picturesque view. He had epilepsy and struggled with depression his whole life, and although he was financially successful, he also felt alienated, largely because of his homosexuality. We can think about this work as part of a long history of representing landscapes as emotionally charged spaces. The starkness and desolation might resonate with Lear's personal experiences of isolation and his sense of being an outsider in a society that marginalized those who didn't conform. Lear’s image invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity, societal norms, and the ways we project our inner worlds onto the landscapes we inhabit.