L'Enclos 1605 - 1650

Editor: This is Jean Morin's "L'Enclos", an etching dating from between 1605 and 1650. It's a small, circular landscape, almost dreamlike. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The circular frame immediately makes me think of a hidden world, a secret garden almost. Notice how the etching focuses on a river enclosed by a dense line of trees. This imagery, especially given the period, could symbolize refuge or sanctuary. Editor: That’s interesting! Refuge from what, specifically? Curator: Perhaps from the religious conflicts brewing across Europe. Landscapes weren't just pretty pictures, they could also evoke specific emotional and psychological states. The density of the trees acts almost as a protective barrier, wouldn't you agree? It makes you feel almost… safe. Editor: Yes, the trees definitely create a feeling of enclosure. Is the river part of that symbolism as well? Curator: Rivers have long been associated with journeys, both literal and metaphorical. The fact that figures are present in the lower section of the landscape may imply ordinary tasks completed in safety, protected from whatever is beyond that boundary line. It could indicate freedom of the ordinary man. Does it evoke any particular cultural memory in you? Editor: I see what you mean! Thinking about it now, it makes me consider those classical paintings where the natural world represented a Golden Age. Curator: Precisely. So you can begin to unpack the continuity of themes – that longing for an idealized, peaceful existence. Art constantly echoes art; artists build from pre-existing images to develop ideas, and the symbolic becomes part of the cultural consciousness. Editor: This really opened my eyes to how much depth landscapes can have! Curator: Mine as well! Now I am eager to research where "L'Enclos" truly resides.