Glen Ellis 1854

Editor: This is John Adams Whipple’s photograph, "Glen Ellis." I’m struck by the way the cascading water contrasts with the rough, dark rocks. What's your take on this image? Curator: It's quite something, isn't it? I see a search for sublime beauty – that delicate balance between awe and terror. Do you feel the almost romantic pull of nature, despite the starkness? Editor: I do, now that you mention it. The way the water flows almost feels like a release. Curator: Exactly! And Whipple captured that beautifully. A release, perhaps, into the unknown, the infinite... Editor: I never considered it in that way before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art’s like that – always something new to discover.