Felsige Landschaft in Spanien 27 - 1850

Curator: This delicate watercolor is entitled “Felsige Landschaft in Spanien,” or “Rocky Landscape in Spain,” by Karl Peter Burnitz, dating from around 1847 to 1850. Editor: My first thought is quiet austerity. The composition relies so heavily on muted greys and browns, there is something severe, but strangely appealing about the geometry of those boulders. Curator: Indeed. Burnitz clearly emphasizes line and form through the use of very controlled washes, layering delicate pigment to achieve both volume and the rough texture of the stone. I notice his manipulation of depth and scale, particularly as the craggy hill recedes into the distance. Editor: Considering that Burnitz lived during a time of increasing industrialization across Europe, this representation speaks to the burgeoning Romantic interest in unspoiled nature. Curator: Exactly. His choice to depict a wild, seemingly untouched terrain stands in contrast to the societal changes occurring around him. And also Burnitz did study in Dusseldorf; thus, perhaps the historical relevance in terms of art movement and Burnitz participation in this art movement. Editor: Speaking to this work’s reception, it also serves to construct and perhaps perpetuate a very particular image of Spain—wild, untamed, and distinctly apart from the industrial heartlands. It seems Burnitz wasn’t just showing what he saw, but perhaps telling a larger story. Curator: An important distinction. What do you think about the use of the sky and how Burnitz uses this technique. Editor: The pale sky, almost a wash, contributes to this mood of isolated grandeur. By denying a strong contrast, all focus is kept firmly on the geological forms. Curator: Agreed. Burnitz uses this piece, its material presence, to speak to notions of nature and national identity circulating at the time. It's remarkable how much of a statement can be created with so little, and, ultimately it showcases this era's romantic, if not somewhat idealistic, notions concerning nationhood and land. Editor: On a visual level, this work compels the viewers, due to Burnitz clear control of the pictorial structure in creating its intended effect.