Oliventræer på cap. Martin Mentone 1880s

Adolph Kittendorff created this print of olive trees in Menton, France, sometime in the 19th century. It depicts a seemingly tranquil coastal scene, yet it speaks volumes about the cultural and economic forces shaping Europe at the time. Consider the rise of tourism among the European middle class in the 19th century. The development of railway networks made previously remote locations like Menton accessible to those seeking leisure and escape, and artists catered to the market for picturesque views. The olive tree itself becomes a cultural signifier, connoting the classical past and agricultural traditions of the Mediterranean. To truly understand this work, historians delve into travel guides, economic data, and other visual culture. We might question how artists of the time were both responding to and shaping the tourist gaze.