Keene Valley, Adirondacks 1886

Curator: Eilshemius, born in 1864, captured the "Keene Valley, Adirondacks," in this delicate pencil drawing, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It feels like a whisper of a memory, a landscape half-remembered, all grays and soft edges. Curator: Absolutely, and we can interpret this through the lens of 19th-century romanticism. It evokes a yearning for unspoiled nature. The Adirondacks, in particular, were becoming a site of both escape and exploitation during that period. Editor: Exploitation, yes, like all these beautiful landscapes turned into postcards and tourist traps. But there's a fragility here too. Those quick, light strokes—it's like he's trying to catch something that's already fading. Curator: Considering the limited scale, Eilshemius’s work prompts us to think about the impact of industrialization on marginalized populations and vulnerable ecosystems, as well as the rise of conservation movements. Editor: It makes me want to grab a pencil, sit by a river, and try to capture that same fleeting moment. Curator: A powerful work, reminding us of the complex relationship between humans and the landscapes they inhabit and transform. Editor: A gentle reminder, maybe. A small voice in a big forest.