Landing Place near Tintern Abbey c. 1802

James Ward created this watercolor, "Landing Place near Tintern Abbey". Watercolor is an interesting material. Unlike oils, where a complex layering of paints creates depth, watercolor relies on the translucence of the pigment itself. Ward's handling of the medium here speaks to the traditions of landscape painting prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in Britain. The quick, fluid strokes evoke a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment in time. However, beyond its aesthetic qualities, watercolor also has social significance. It was a relatively inexpensive and portable medium, favored by amateur artists and those documenting the expanding British Empire. The picturesque scene Ward depicts also speaks to a wider cultural interest in the rural landscape, and the beginnings of the tourist trade. By focusing on materials and processes, we see how artistic choices are always connected to the broader world of labor, politics, and consumption.