Waterloo Lake Roundhay, Park Leeds 

John Atkinson Grimshaw created this atmospheric painting of Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park, Leeds, using oil on canvas. The composition is dominated by muted tones, with layers of grey and brown creating a dense, almost palpable fog that obscures the distance. The stark, linear elements of the bare tree branches and the wooden fence create a structural framework. These contrast with the amorphous shapes of the distant trees and the subtle reflections on the lake's surface. The semiotic system at play here uses light and shadow to convey mood. The diffused light mutes details, creating a sense of mystery and quiet contemplation. Grimshaw skillfully employs the formal elements of line and tone to create a scene that evokes a specific emotional response. The woman becomes a signifier, a symbol of solitude and reflection against the vastness of nature. The painting exemplifies a shift towards emphasizing subjective experience and emotional resonance, using the landscape as a canvas for exploring states of mind. This is achieved not just through what is depicted, but how.