What makes a landscape beautiful — is it something already in nature, or
something we create with our imagination? In this episode, we explore
the idea of the picturesque through Nathaniel Parker Willis’s vivid 1840
description of Lake George. From jagged cliffs and dramatic peaks to the
smooth curves of water and shoreline, we discuss how writers and
painters shaped the way Americans learned to “see” nature. Along the
way, we debate French vs. Italian roots of the term, uncover the blurred
line between beauty and ugliness, and connect Willis’s words to Hudson
River School paintings — and even Instagram today. Tune in and discover
how the art of framing a scene has always shaped our vision of beauty