Landscape Number 39 c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Alexandre Calame’s "Landscape Number 39," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. What strikes you about it? Editor: Well, it's immediately Romantic. The texture feels almost aggressive, but there’s a curious tranquility nestled within. Curator: Absolutely. Calame, born in 1810, was fascinated by dramatic landscapes. Look at how he uses dense foliage and contrasting light and shadow to evoke a sense of sublime power. Editor: And consider the production! These intricate details likely involved layered etching and engraving, demanding meticulous labor. It makes you wonder about the economics of printmaking at the time. Curator: It truly does. But I see this as a deeply personal statement, an attempt to reconcile the self with the immensity of nature. What do you think? Editor: Perhaps both are true. The personal and the political, inextricably linked. Curator: A fitting duality for such a work, I agree. Editor: Absolutely. It gives you a sense of how complex it is to produce such a landscape.