Rouaan temidden van heuvels langs de Seine 1822 - 1867

Editor: Here we have Théodore Rousseau's pencil drawing, "Rouaan temidden van heuvels langs de Seine," created sometime between 1822 and 1867. It's such a delicate and almost dreamlike rendering of a city. What draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: I'm struck by how Rousseau positions the city, specifically Rouen, within a grand, sweeping landscape. He’s less interested, I think, in the specifics of architectural detail and more in the city’s relationship to the natural world. How does situating Rouen “among the hills along the Seine” affect our perception of the urban space? Editor: It feels almost…vulnerable? Like civilization is just a small part of a much larger system. Is that something artists were exploring during this period? Curator: Absolutely. The 19th century saw rapid industrialization and urbanization, and artists often responded by either celebrating progress or lamenting what was being lost. Rousseau, aligned with the Barbizon school, was firmly in the latter camp. They actively chose rural subjects, highlighting a disappearing way of life. Can you see that in the level of detail he applies to the foliage in the foreground compared to the more generalized depiction of Rouen itself? Editor: I do now! So the looseness of the city’s rendering is actually intentional, emphasizing the enduring quality of the landscape. Curator: Exactly! The pencil sketch aesthetic further emphasizes this ephemerality. How might contemporary audiences have viewed an artwork so invested in this kind of nostalgia? It served as both a reminder of what was being lost and, perhaps, a call to reconsider the relentless march of progress. Editor: That’s fascinating. I always saw these landscapes as just pretty scenes, but understanding the social context gives them so much more depth. Curator: Precisely! Considering art within its historical context helps us unlock its deeper meanings and understand its role in shaping cultural attitudes.