Bergachtig landschap met zuil c. 1647 - 1692

Editor: This etching, "Mountainous Landscape with Column," dating from the late 17th century, is the work of Roelant Roghman. It's interesting; the landscape seems so wild and untamed, and yet there's this very formal column placed rather prominently. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it feels like a journey, doesn’t it? Roghman leads us on an adventure, but it's not all rugged beauty. The column, this classical element, is so deliberate. It’s like stumbling upon a memory, a ruin perhaps, amidst the sublime, almost threatening wilderness. Maybe the column is Roghman reminding us that even in the face of nature's grandeur, humanity leaves its mark, literally and figuratively. Or maybe it is not the sublime at all. A good drawing, like this, is open-ended, it depends where we're standing and how we look at the image. It becomes a mirror, you see yourself. Editor: That's fascinating! The column as a marker of human presence… I hadn’t considered that. So, would you say this juxtaposition between the natural and the man-made is the key to understanding Roghman's intention? Curator: "Intention" is always tricky, isn't it? As artists, we rarely fully grasp it. But yes, that interplay is crucial. Think about how often we seek order in chaos, how we try to contain the uncontainable. Roghman has this beautiful way of weaving them together to allow some air to flow through. What do you take from the atmosphere, its tonality? Editor: I get the feeling that it’s about exploring the world, and appreciating what we discover – and bringing these aspects with us. It feels a bit philosophical, a little open. Curator: Exactly! Roghman invites you to be a wanderer, a dreamer in ink. Each line, scratch, smudge can allow our own self and context to blend in, creating unique narratives, where old meets new and then continues in your own life. What an amazing connection to make with people across all these eras. Editor: That makes me appreciate this a lot more. It's not just a landscape; it's an invitation. Curator: It is indeed. Art that truly speaks always is!