Cascatella di Tivoli (Waterfall at Tivoli) 1792

Editor: Albert Christoph Dies’s “Cascatella di Tivoli” offers a captivating scene. The landscape feels both romantic and wild. What cultural symbols do you see at play in this image? Curator: Notice how the waterfall, a recurring motif in art, symbolizes nature's power and purity. But also consider the figures on horseback – their presence suggests a narrative of travel, exploration, perhaps even conquest. How does that resonate with you? Editor: It does add a layer of human impact on the natural world. Curator: Precisely. And consider how the artist frames the scene, almost inviting us to contemplate our relationship with the sublime and the symbolic weight of landscape itself. What have you found most fascinating? Editor: How symbols invite multiple interpretations, connecting us to cultural memory.