Four Sketches of Trees and Logs c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is Alexandre Calame's "Four Sketches of Trees and Logs" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a study, really—four different ways of looking at trees. What do you see in Calame's approach? Curator: It whispers of the Romantics, doesn’t it? Each sketch is a different mood, a different way of feeling the forest. The top left, that almost frantic energy, versus the serene stillness of the logs… Does it speak to you of the wild, untamed soul mirrored in nature? Editor: Definitely! It’s like a personal journey through the woods. I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly! And isn’t that what art should do? Take us on a journey, not just show us a place? Editor: It makes me want to grab a sketchbook and head for the nearest forest. Curator: Me too! Maybe that’s the real magic—inspiring us to find our own wild landscapes.