Wave rolling after wave, where way they found If steep, with torrent rapture 

Editor: Here we have an engraving, likely from the late 19th century, by Gustave Doré titled "Wave rolling after wave, where way they found If steep, with torrent rapture". It is monochrome, depicting what appears to be a tumultuous waterfall cascading from immense, shadowy cliffs. What do you see in this piece beyond just a dramatic landscape? Curator: Beyond the immediate drama, I see Doré grappling with the sublime—a concept deeply intertwined with Romanticism and its complex relationship with power. The immense scale of the natural world dwarfs any sense of human presence. Consider the political implications of depicting nature as so overwhelmingly powerful during a time of rapid industrialization and colonial expansion. Is this a celebration of nature's force, or a subtle critique of human ambition and its potential for hubris? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered it in terms of human power versus nature. Is the choice of a monochrome engraving significant here? Curator: Absolutely. The stark contrast of light and shadow heightens the dramatic tension. It reinforces the sublime quality – this overwhelming sense of awe mixed with terror. Think about how the absence of colour flattens the scene but also concentrates the power of light to represent transcendence, and shadow to represent the potential violence within both the landscape and human action. This engraving process itself became an industrial one at this time. Editor: So, Doré is maybe using industrial techniques to show nature's contrast against itself? Is that tension there? Curator: Precisely! It asks us to consider where nature ends and technology begins. What might it suggest about our own relationship to the environment? Editor: This piece definitely has many more layers than I initially perceived. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It’s exciting to consider Doré’s questions in light of contemporary discussions about climate change and our own power—and powerlessness—in the face of natural forces.