Mountain Landscape with Woodcutters 1608 - 1611

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the weight of it, even though it depicts a landscape. The density of the mountain and the labor depicted feels heavy. Editor: Indeed. Let's unpack that weight. What we are seeing is "Mountain Landscape with Woodcutters," an oil painting dating from around 1608 to 1611 by Roelant Savery. It’s currently held here at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Savery was known for his fantastical landscapes. Curator: "Fantastical" is an interesting choice. The sheer scale of the rocks coupled with the dwarfed figures of the woodcutters gives it this slightly unsettling air. It’s almost as if nature itself is a character, imposing its will upon humanity. Editor: Absolutely. Consider the socio-political context of the early 17th century. These landscapes weren't simply pretty scenes. They were often allegories for the relationship between humankind and nature, or even comments on the social hierarchy. Curator: And the labor is so clearly demarcated. It speaks to the toil and precariousness of life for those at the bottom, literally hauling resources. But, are they subjugated by nature or are they just going on with their lives? Editor: Perhaps it’s a depiction of both. The almost brutal, towering cliffs are presented next to a vista and town in the background, hinting at the possibilities outside of labor, while simultaneously suggesting that for the characters in this landscape those are impossibilities. I find this work quite evocative, though deeply sobering. Curator: Evocative and sobering are perfect descriptors. It encapsulates a period where the power dynamics within nature, society and even between countries are put into question. The relationship with work, environment and the promises they make. Savery captured something essential here. Editor: Absolutely, it gives me pause to consider the continuing pressures faced by so many, and I’ll continue to look through that lens, to better understand its relevance today. Thank you.