Salmon Spearing

Cotman’s watercolors from the 1830s are experimental in nature. Rather than layering transparent washes, the artist used a mixture of watercolor and flour paste to create luminosity and a rich density of color. Worked in this heavy-bodied medium, Salmon Spearing depicts two figures fishing in a wide river, with craggy mountains rising beyond. The artist has concentrated on the application of his material, instead of using dramatic light effects. Dynamic brushstrokes applied in every direction create a sense of movement in both the clouds and the water (2022).