Lake Albano c. 19th century

Editor: This is Robert Wallis' "Lake Albano," a print from the Harvard Art Museums collection. I'm struck by how it romanticizes the Italian landscape. What can you tell me about the context surrounding this image? Curator: Well, it's important to consider the public's perception of landscape art during this period. Prints like these made picturesque views accessible to a wider audience, fueling tourism and shaping the visual culture of the time. Who was this imagery really for? Editor: So, it's not just a depiction of nature, but also a tool for promoting a certain ideal, right? Curator: Precisely. It’s also about power, influencing how people perceive and interact with these spaces, especially in relation to colonial or post-colonial desires. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It gives me a new perspective on the artwork and its role in society. Curator: Indeed. And the politics of seeing continues to evolve.