A Hilly Country 

Editor: This is Alexander Cozens' "A Hilly Country," done with what looks like ink wash. It has a very dreamlike quality. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the paper itself – its texture, its likely source. How does the artist manipulate this material to depict space and distance? Consider also the production of ink at the time, its availability, and how that might have affected artistic choices. Editor: So, you are suggesting focusing on the materials to understand the artwork better? Curator: Precisely. By examining the material means and the social context, we can challenge the traditional notion of landscape as simply an aesthetic object. Editor: That's an interesting perspective. I hadn't thought about the social implications of artmaking materials before. Curator: Indeed, it changes our appreciation of the work, doesn't it?