In this episode, we explore the concept of the picturesque through Nathaniel Willis’s 1840 description of Lake George. We debate whether beauty is inherent in nature or shaped by the imagination of the viewer, comparing Hudson River School painters to European artists like Salvator Rosa. Finally, we connect these ideas to modern culture, from Instagram photography to tourism, showing why the picturesque still matters today

Music Credit:
“Clair de Lune, L.32” by Claude Debussy