Curatorial Narrative In the late 18th century, landscape painting began to undergo a significant transformation, with artists seeking to capture the essence of the natural world in a more austere and geometric manner. The anonymous artist behind this work, dated 1780, is a prime example of this trend, as evident in the linear brushwork and monochromatic palette employed to depict a view of the lighthouse on Cape Henlopen at sea. The subject itself, taken from the perspective of the ocean, imbues the composition with an air of detachment, underscoring the artist’s preoccupation with capturing the objective essence of the landscape. The geometric style that characterizes this work not only references the emerging conventions of Neoclassicism but also acknowledges the influence of Dutch marine painting on the artist’s technique. As the subject matter is rendered in a deliberately minimalist manner, the spatial depth and atmospheric w