Schloss im Walde 1870 - 1928

Curator: Here we have "Schloss im Walde," or "Castle in the Woods," an etching by Gottfried Lorenz. Although the exact date is not known, it was likely made sometime between 1870 and 1928. Editor: Well, it definitely evokes that sort of fairy-tale, slightly melancholy vibe. You know, Rapunzel’s just waiting up there, letting her hair down. Though honestly, that castle looks pretty drafty. Curator: The medium contributes to that feeling, I think. The etching process—the acid biting into the metal plate, the controlled application of ink— lends a certain level of detail, but it’s still indirect. A printed image, layered and reproduced. Editor: Right! I love the textures—you get such delicate lines, it’s like a whispered secret of a landscape. It really adds to the sense of hidden history, this place overgrown but with stories etched into its very stones, right? Or in this case, etched into the plate. Curator: The Romantic style emphasizes the sublime power of nature, and we see that here, don't we? Look at the bare trees pressing in on the structure. Even though this work is categorized as both landscape and cityscape, one really consumes the other. It reminds you of how land ownership concentrates both power and resources. Editor: That is true, although all that gloom still works for me as a little slice of gothic whimsy! Curator: Yes, it has a undeniable mood! And to understand that mood we have to acknowledge that prints, etchings, and drawings, existed in a specific art market. It provided an outlet for original works like this one and catered to consumer desire and collecting frenzy. Editor: That's definitely food for thought, while staring at this hauntingly pretty castle image. Now I’m considering this little castle a luxury commodity, and now I'm pondering whether its story involves taxes… Thanks! Curator: A pleasure as always!