A Hillside Path and Stand of Trees c. 19th century

Curator: Let's talk about Alexandre Calame's "A Hillside Path and Stand of Trees." It's currently part of the Harvard Art Museums' collection. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how still and quiet it feels, like a hushed moment in nature caught in time, using only the barest of means. Curator: Absolutely. Calame, a 19th-century Swiss artist, was really influential in popularizing Alpine landscapes. His work romanticizes nature, turning it into something grand and emotional. Editor: It’s interesting how the trees almost seem to be guarding that little path, as if beckoning us onward, or maybe warning us to stay away. Are we welcome in this landscape? Curator: That tension, between the inviting and the forbidding, is classic Romanticism. Calame captures nature’s power, but also its serenity. I think it speaks to a deep human desire to connect with the wild. Editor: This little scene makes me think about how nature can be both a sanctuary and a challenge. Curator: A fitting reflection to end with.