Notre Dame sur l’Eau, Domfront, Normandy 1820

John Sell Cotman made this watercolor drawing of Notre Dame sur l’Eau in Domfront, Normandy, using brown washes. The result is an image of tonal subtlety and warmth. Cotman was a key figure in the English watercolor school. He employed traditional, natural materials: paper, water, and pigment derived from minerals or plants. These materials have an inherent, understated quality that contrasts vividly with the subject of the drawing: a massive church with a soaring spire. Cotman applied the wash in layers, building up the image from light to dark. This allowed him to capture the play of light on the stone surfaces and the texture of the surrounding landscape. What's interesting here is how Cotman is finding ways to evoke the labor and materials invested in the church, through his own labor of love at the drawing board. This work challenges any strict definition of 'fine art,' because its value lies so much in the directness and skill of its making.