Landschap 1885 - 1937

Editor: Here we have “Landschap,” a landscape print by Pierre-Eugène Vibert, made sometime between 1885 and 1937. There's a definite stillness about this image that makes it quite compelling. The simple color palette feels almost like a memory. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Memory is a potent word to use here. This piece whispers rather than shouts. The limited color palette certainly contributes. I see this landscape not as a literal place, but an emotional one, rendered with the fleeting, dreamlike quality that defines impressionism. Look at the thin, wiry trees and those amorphous clouds – don't they seem to hum with an unspoken energy? Editor: They do! The longer I look, the less fixed the scene seems. I can see that the lines contribute to the emotional quality of the scene. Do you think there’s any symbolism at play here? Curator: Oh, absolutely. Think about the lone tree, stark against the horizon, and the horizontal orientation; I imagine it is a kind of silent observer. The space almost opens to possibilities...a symbol for perseverance in a harsh environment perhaps, and not unlike some things I feel deep in my soul on a contemplative morning! I'd be curious to consider what a 21st-century artist could offer if handed a lithography stone these days... Editor: That's a really fascinating way to read the artwork. Now that you mention the lone tree, that really stands out for me as a focal point that balances the natural landscape. I also learned how those stylistic aspects of impressionism play into the emotional aspect of the print. Curator: Exactly! It's like the artist has pulled a feeling right out of thin air. Maybe we could take a little of that with us.