Gezicht op Schladming 1888

Friedrich Simony created this print called "Gezicht op Schladming". The exact date is unknown, but Simony was alive during a time of great change in Europe, with the rise of industrialization and nationalism. This landscape image invites us to consider how notions of the picturesque intersect with identity. In the 19th century, landscape art was often used to promote a sense of national pride and cultural identity. Simony, as an Austrian artist, likely felt a connection to the mountainous regions he depicted. How might his personal identity as an Austrian have influenced his artistic choices and the way he portrayed this landscape? The romanticized view flattens the experience of those who inhabit the space. Consider what this landscape leaves out. It suggests questions about whose stories are being told and whose are being erased in these idealized depictions of nature. What feelings arise when considering the complex interplay of identity, landscape, and representation?