Landscape with Ruins 

John Varley made this landscape with ruins using brown wash on paper. In wash drawings like this, pigment is suspended in water, and applied in broad, translucent strokes. The result is moody and atmospheric, qualities that were much prized by British artists and consumers in the Romantic era. The relatively simple materials belie a sophisticated process, as the artist skillfully manipulates the wash to create a sense of depth and form. Notice the fine gradations of tone, from the light washes in the background to the darker, more saturated areas in the foreground. Varley was renowned as a teacher, and wash techniques like this one were central to his pedagogy. At the time, watercolor was associated with amateur artistic production, especially among women of the middle and upper classes. But Varley worked to elevate the status of watercolor painting, seeing it as a medium for serious artistic expression. He was part of a larger cultural shift, as artists and critics challenged traditional hierarchies that separated fine art from craft. In that context, even a humble wash drawing could become a powerful statement.