Artwork
Lauerzersee with the Mythens
Lauerzersee with the Mythens is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Lauerzersee with the Mythens is a watercolour painting by J.M.W. Turner, depicting a serene Swiss landscape of a misty lake surrounded by jagged mountains under a pale sky. Characterized by soft, blurred forms and a dreamy atmosphere, the work exemplifies Turner's late-career style.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the Lauerzersee (also known as Lake of Brienz) in Switzerland, a location Turner visited in 1843. The subject is not just a topographical representation but an evocation of mood and light, prioritizing emotional resonance over precise detail.
Technique & Style
Turner achieved the painting's distinctive softness by applying paint in a seemingly careless yet carefully considered manner, possibly using his fingers to smudge colors, allowing them to blur reminiscent of wet paper. This technique heightens the sense of mist and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Painted in Turner's studio, this watercolour was created from memory and a smaller 1843 sketchbook piece. It is part of a series of Swiss watercolours from his later career, alongside which his late oil works are considered the pinnacle of his artistic output.
Context
Created years after Turner's initial visit to the location, the painting reflects his ability to distill memories into expressive, mood-driven artworks. It stands as an example of how his travels influenced his studio practice.
Legacy
Lauerzersee with the Mythens contributes to Turner's reputation for innovative watercolour techniques and his capacity to evoke profound emotional responses through landscape. It is often cited alongside other works by Turner for its dreamlike quality and expressive use of colour.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
