Landscape with a Wheatfield c. 17th century

Curator: Here we see Jean Morin's "Landscape with a Wheatfield," a 17th-century print held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels...still. Like a moment snatched from a very long afternoon. So serene, yet melancholic at the same time. Curator: Notice the detail in the foreground, how Morin renders the texture of the wheat, and the figures at the edge of the field. It speaks to the labor and the daily life that sustains these landscapes. Editor: I love how the line work creates a sense of depth, pulling you into that distant vista. It's like a stage set, waiting for a play to begin. Curator: Indeed. This print engages with contemporary ideas about pastoral life, but also speaks to the socio-economic realities of agriculture and land use in the 17th century. Editor: It makes me want to grab a blanket and join those folks under the tree. A little escape into a simpler time, maybe.