Ten Landscapes c. 19th century

Editor: This is Auguste Delâtre's "Ten Landscapes," date unknown, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. They look like little windows into different worlds. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Well, consider the socio-political context of 19th-century France. The rise of industrialization led to a renewed focus on nature and rural life, right? Do you see that reflected here? Editor: Yes, I think so! There's a nostalgic quality, a yearning for simpler times before urbanization took over. Curator: Exactly. Delâtre isn’t just showing landscapes, he's engaging in a dialogue about progress, loss, and our relationship with the environment. It is a statement. Editor: I never thought of it that way. I was too busy looking at the trees. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art invites us to examine our values and assumptions, even in something as seemingly simple as a landscape.