Kapelle an einem Weg bei Affile 31 - 1831

August Lucas created "Kapelle an einem Weg bei Affile", a pencil drawing, at an unknown date. Lucas belonged to a generation of German artists who, during the 19th century, ventured to Italy, seeking inspiration in its landscapes and classical heritage. This drawing, capturing a chapel along a path near Affile, resonates with the era's longing for idyllic simplicity, yet we can also ask, who had access to such idealized visions of the Italian countryside? The picturesque representation flattens the social realities of the time, overlooking the complex lives and labors of the local population. Lucas's work invites us to consider whose stories are told, and whose are left out of the picture. This seemingly serene landscape is a reminder that art, even in its quietest forms, engages in a dialogue with power and representation.