The Lake of Zug 1888

John Ruskin made this print of The Lake of Zug using mezzotint. The scene depicts a Swiss lake surrounded by mountains, with figures populating the shoreline. Ruskin was deeply invested in the social role of art. As a Victorian art critic, he believed art should serve a moral purpose, reflecting the beauty and order he saw in the natural world. This picturesque landscape, with its sublime mountains and tranquil lake, embodies Ruskin's aesthetic ideals. It speaks to the Victorian era’s fascination with nature and its power to inspire and uplift the human spirit. Ruskin’s work reveals a conservative desire to preserve traditional values in the face of rapid industrialization. To understand Ruskin fully, one can look into his writings on art theory, social commentary, and his engagement with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Such research illuminates the complex interplay between art, society, and the individual. Art like this speaks to its social and institutional context.