17. All Plain, Darker at the Top than the Bottom, Gradually 

Editor: Here we have "17. All Plain, Darker at the Top than the Bottom, Gradually," by Alexander Cozens. The title is quite descriptive! I'm struck by the starkness and simplicity. What do you make of it? Curator: It's interesting to consider this piece within the context of 18th-century landscape theory. Cozens was fascinated by the creation of ideal landscapes, and his "blot" technique, of which this is an example, offered a way to generate and categorize different atmospheric effects. Editor: So it's like a template? Curator: Precisely. These weren't meant as finished artworks themselves, but rather as visual prompts. Think of them as democratizing landscape painting, offering a method for anyone to create seemingly complex scenes. Editor: I never considered the socio-political implications of art education! This has broadened my understanding. Curator: Indeed, it reveals a lot about how art was taught, disseminated, and consumed during Cozens' time.