Berglandschap met kolkende beek in schlucht 1852 - 1855

Alexandre Calame created this landscape with a kolkende beek in schlucht, using graphite. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1810, Calame came of age during a period of significant cultural and political change in Europe, as the rise of Romanticism coincided with growing nationalism. Calame's identity as a Swiss artist was deeply intertwined with the romantic idealization of the natural world, and his landscapes often served as expressions of national identity. His work is marked by dramatic compositions, with rocky cliffs and stormy skies, evoking a sense of awe and sublime power. Calame sought to capture the emotional impact of nature on the human spirit, reflecting a desire for spiritual connection. He was greatly admired during his lifetime, solidifying his place as one of Switzerland's most celebrated artists. The intensity of the mountain gorge is tempered by the soft graphite, leaving us with the question of how a landscape can shape not only art but also a nation's vision of itself.