Bergen in Seelisberg 1889 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this etching of 'Bergen in Seelisberg.' Van 's-Gravesande captures more than just a landscape; he encapsulates the Romantic era’s fascination with nature's sublimity. Looking at this piece, consider the social context of landscape art at the time; often, it served as a reflection of national identity and pride, particularly for the rising bourgeois class who had the means to travel and appreciate such scenery. While seemingly apolitical, landscapes can tell us about the relationship between humans and the environment, the romanticization of untouched lands, and the socio-economic status of those who could afford to contemplate them. Van 's-Gravesande once said that he sought to represent "the poetic mood of nature". What aspects of nature elicit poetic moods for you? Here, the emotional resonance comes from the delicate rendering and the sublime atmosphere, inviting us to reflect on our place within the grandeur of the natural world.