A View of Klein Windhoek 1918

Editor: This is Willy Schlobach’s "A View of Klein Windhoek," painted in 1918. It's an oil painting and offers quite a scene. It evokes a feeling of serenity. I’m especially drawn to the lavender mountains in the distance. What catches your eye in this landscape? Curator: Ah, those mountains! They're painted with such a delicate touch, almost dreamlike, aren’t they? It’s funny, I find myself contemplating the dryness of the terrain juxtaposed with those soft, inviting hues. Almost a mirage of comfort. Makes you wonder what the artist was yearning for. Have you ever noticed how colours can whisper stories? Editor: They really do! I guess it makes sense, since art is storytelling too! The foreground has a more golden, rustic look which sets it apart from those calming mountains. It’s like he's separating the earthly from some other, less touchable realm. Curator: Precisely! Schlobach captures the reality of the landscape with those earthy tones while also infusing it with a sense of romantic longing. Think of it: he was painting this during a time of great turmoil. Perhaps those lavender mountains were a glimpse of hope, a haven amidst the harshness. Do you think plein-air painting might be an escape or perhaps more immediate way of confronting nature? Editor: I never really considered it that way. I'm starting to think that both ways could work. A painter who is outside, experiencing a landscape with every sense, will internalize something unique and give a feeling to a scene that otherwise might never have occurred. I’ll have to reflect on that some more, thank you! Curator: Wonderful. Keep that spark of curiosity alive.