Berglandschap met wandelaars 1678 - 1725

Curator: Ah, another windswept vista—it feels like freedom and introspection all at once! Editor: Indeed! This print, “Berglandschap met wandelaars,” or "Mountainous Landscape with Walkers," by Jan Soukens, was created sometime between 1678 and 1725. It's an engraving, exhibiting a delicate dance between light and shadow. Curator: The little figures make me want to spin yarns about where they are headed or running from. Look at the density of those lines though – a real symphony of marks! Does it feel a little bleak to you? I'm not sure what that is about. Editor: The landscape genre was taking hold during this era, and prints like these became accessible ways for people to experience idealized versions of nature—especially those who were denied access to open space because they are landless or part of other marginalized identities in cities. I agree, though – the sharp lines could also evoke something unsettling for those unfamiliar with nature's uneven terrain. Curator: That is probably exactly why he employed those baroque techniques – everything soaring upwards and aiming to invoke drama! Though you’re right, one would like to get an idea for all groups in society whether this dramatic nature would offer the feeling of solace that we feel, or rather emphasize their struggle even further. Editor: Right! We must examine the narrative beyond just an aesthetic appreciation. How might this vista read if one imagines an indigenous person whose land was stolen by European expansion feeling about these hiking figures? What about its implications to issues such as colonization, human rights, and environmental ethics? The natural world in itself cannot save you if there is no fairness for all! Curator: Good point; well, now that is something to ponder as we get ready to stroll onto our next destination in the collection! Editor: Yes, let's carry forward this critical consciousness as we engage with each new work of art. Every artwork has stories to tell; it's our duty to listen for all voices.