Ebenezer Wake Cook: A Victorian Watercolorist Challenging Artistic Conventions Ebenezer Wake Cook (December 28, 1843 – January 1926), affectionately known as E.W. Cook, was a prominent watercolor painter hailing from Essex, England, who established himself as a significant figure in the artistic landscape of Victorian Australia and Britain. His distinctive style combined meticulous observation with a critical engagement with prevailing artistic trends—a characteristic that cemented his reputation as more than just a skilled craftsman; he was a thoughtful commentator on the evolving role of a…