Plate XV c. 19th century

Curator: Johann Caspar Nepomuk Scheuren, born in 1810, created this print, “Plate XV.” It’s currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels expansive, yet intimate. The detail is striking for such a small work, almost like a miniature stage. Curator: Considering Scheuren’s interest in landscape, and the social context of the period, I would suggest that he aimed to evoke a romantic and idealized connection with the natural world. Editor: I agree, but I also wonder about the labor involved in creating such intricate detail, and how that contrasts with the supposed leisure of the figures depicted in the landscape. Curator: Perhaps Scheuren is commenting on the relationship between labor and leisure, the production of images, and how they circulate within society. Editor: Or maybe the very act of depicting this pastoral scene normalizes a particular vision of nature, one divorced from the realities of land ownership and access for marginalized communities. Curator: A powerful reading. It is interesting to consider how the materiality of the print itself informs its reception. Editor: Exactly. These discussions really highlight the intersectional narratives embedded in art history.