Landscape Number 41 c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Landscape Number 41" by Alexandre Calame. Editor: Whoa, it feels like a dramatic operatic stage set, doesn’t it? All that dark, moody lighting and rushing water. Curator: Calame was a key figure in 19th-century landscape painting, particularly known for his depictions of the Swiss Alps. Editor: You can practically feel the spray from that waterfall. It’s interesting how he captures that sense of overwhelming nature. Did people back then actually enjoy hiking? Curator: The sublime was a popular concept then - a mix of awe and terror. He’s playing with that. It makes me think about the rise of tourism and a yearning to find something authentic in nature, away from the urban centers. Editor: I get that. It’s the sort of scene that makes you think, "Nature, you scary and beautiful beast!". Curator: Right? This is more than a landscape; it's a carefully constructed emotional experience. Editor: I’m now strangely calm and want to conquer a mountain. Curator: And that, I think, is the power of Calame.