Landscape c. 19th century

This delicate landscape was created by an anonymous artist using graphite on paper. In this piece, the artist seems to be playing with the very definition of ‘landscape.’ What does it mean to represent nature, and who gets to do the representing? Historically, landscape painting has been a way for dominant groups to assert ownership and control over land, often erasing or romanticizing the labor and lives of those who live there. The choice of graphite, a humble material, and the sketch-like quality of the work suggest a challenge to these grand narratives. It asks us to consider the quiet, often overlooked aspects of the natural world. Perhaps it is a commentary on class, a subversive act that democratizes the genre. The anonymity of the artist further emphasizes this feeling. Who are they, and what is their relationship to the land they depict? It invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the environment.