Pont Pwl Gwyn, River Usk 

David Cox created ‘Pont Pwl Gwyn, River Usk’ with graphite on paper. The pencil lines, though delicate, guide us through a landscape, revealing Cox’s structured approach to capturing nature. Notice how the composition directs your gaze: the river, framed by foliage, leads to the arched bridge, a focal point in the drawing. Cox employs a network of fine strokes to define form, creating a sense of depth and texture. These marks aren't merely representational. Instead they construct a visual language that seeks to translate the sensory experience of the scene, almost as if Cox sought to render the air itself. Consider the structural underpinnings of Cox’s work. The horizontal lines of the distant hills contrast with the verticality of the trees, creating a balanced yet dynamic composition. This balance invites contemplation on how nature itself is structured and perceived. It asks whether our perception and understanding of the external world truly reflect an underlying order.