Paysage 18th-19th century

Curator: This print, entitled "Paysage", is housed here at the Harvard Art Museums and is attributed to Lambert Antoine Claessens. It seems to capture a scene during a storm. Editor: It's striking! The sky dominates, heavy with that storm. You can almost feel the humidity and hear the distant rumble. I'm drawn to the texture. It feels like you could reach out and touch the coarse grain of the paper. Curator: Claessens really sets the scene, placing the tiny settlement at the mercy of nature. How do you think the making of prints influences the dissemination of landscape imagery? Editor: The etching process itself, with the layering of ink, mirrors the layered impact of the elements. Also, prints democratized access to art. Suddenly, landscape wasn’t just for the wealthy elite but available to a wider public. Curator: Absolutely. The print becomes a medium through which an experience can be shared beyond a specific location or social circle. Editor: It makes you consider the labor involved in both surviving the storm and creating the image. It's a beautiful reminder of our connection to the natural world and the forces that shape our lives.