Landschap met loofbomen en een omgevallen eik 1840

Alexandre Calame made this landscape with deciduous trees and a fallen oak in the 19th century. Born in Switzerland, Calame was a key figure in the Romantic landscape painting movement, which emphasized emotion and the awe-inspiring power of nature. In this work, we see Calame's interest in capturing the grandeur of the natural world. But beyond the aesthetic beauty, consider how landscapes during this time were often used to evoke feelings of national identity and pride. As nations were forming, artists like Calame helped to shape a sense of belonging to the land. The fallen tree could be seen as a symbol of the transience of life, or perhaps even a metaphor for the political upheavals of the time. I invite you to consider how our relationship with nature is always intertwined with our social and political realities. What does this landscape evoke in you?