Drei Hasen erschrecken vor der Eisenbahn 

Editor: This watercolor drawing is called *Three Hares Startled by a Train,* attributed to Friedrich Wilhelm Keyl. The hares appear almost weightless, caught in mid-air. It evokes a feeling of disruption, a serene pastoral scene invaded. What's your interpretation of this work, especially in light of its historical context? Curator: This piece encapsulates the anxiety surrounding rapid industrialization in the 19th century. The approaching train, though not fully visible, is a powerful symbol of technological advancement encroaching upon the natural world. We must examine how it speaks to issues of displacement, both literal, as animal habitats are destroyed, and metaphorical, as traditional ways of life are upended by new technologies. How might we consider the artist's intent in portraying the animals as "startled," rather than simply "observing"? Editor: I see your point. Their frantic reaction does suggest a deeper level of disturbance. Could it also be read as a commentary on human anxieties about progress and an idealised pre-industrial past? Curator: Absolutely. Romanticism often served as a vehicle for critiquing social changes. The hares become stand-ins for the disoriented populace struggling to adapt to this new era. This piece isn't just a depiction of nature; it's a mirror reflecting societal tensions. It pushes us to ask questions: Whose voices are silenced by progress? Who bears the burden of rapid change? It foreshadows a great wave of modern challenges. Editor: That’s fascinating. I initially saw it as just a charming scene of startled animals, but your reading really opens it up. Curator: Art provides this lens for examining our world, past and present, doesn't it? We see progress through different perspectives of the past, with all its implications. Editor: It does indeed, this painting certainly made me consider industrialization from a completely different perspective.