View of Wicklow Hills 1843

Elizabeth Murray created this watercolor, View of Wicklow Hills, sometime in the 19th century. Murray was a British artist known for both her portraiture and landscapes. As women artists in the 19th century often did, Murray navigated the art world through connections and travel, painting in locations from Europe to the Middle East, to South America. Here, the soft watercolor palette creates a serene vista of the Irish coast. We see the vastness of the natural landscape, yet our eye is drawn to the figures populating the beach—evidence of human labor and leisure. The detailed rendering of these figures, from the fishermen to the family enjoying a day out, invites a narrative interpretation. As we consider Murray's travels and her position as a woman artist, we can appreciate how this image captures not just a geographical location, but also a perspective shaped by her own experiences and observations of society.