Landscape with Windmill 1850

Elizabeth Murray created "Landscape with Windmill" with graphite on paper. Born in London in 1815, Murray's life was marked by her travels between England, Europe, and South America, reflecting a shifting cultural landscape and colonial expansion. Within this graphite drawing, the artist is working within a well-established genre of landscape art but also subtly reshaping its conventions. Look at the figures placed within the landscape, they suggest a narrative, perhaps a moment of interaction or contemplation. How do these figures humanize the landscape, imbuing it with stories of labor, life, and community? Also notice how the traditional romantic depiction of the landscape is being maintained, offering us a peaceful, quiet setting in the countryside. Consider how Murray, as a woman artist in the 19th century, navigated and negotiated her position within these artistic and societal landscapes, leaving behind a personal mark on how we view the land.