Landscape with waterfall
1786
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1786
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a quiet valley with a steep mountain rising in the background. A waterfall pours down the rock face, blending into the misty air. Below, a few trees line the banks of a river, and two cows graze near the water’s edge. The colors are soft—pale greens, grays, and whites—giving the scene a peaceful, dreamy feel. The artist used light and shadow to make the waterfall look dramatic, even though the rest of the scene stays calm. This contrast was a key trick in the art of the time. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists used nature to express big emotions.
