On the Shore c. 19th century

Editor: This is "On the Shore," a watercolor in the style of J.M.W. Turner, located here at the Harvard Art Museums. The hazy blues and browns create a sense of peaceful isolation. What do you see in this piece, beyond the surface? Curator: I see the Romantic era's fascination with the sublime and the individual's place within it. Turner and artists like him captured landscapes that reflected contemporary political and social anxieties. How does this piece, in its depiction of nature, comment on the public role of art at the time? Editor: It's interesting to think of something so serene as reflecting anxieties. I guess that's why art history is so insightful! Curator: Exactly! Understanding the socio-political context gives us a deeper appreciation. Thanks for sharing this experience with me.