The Tempest c. 1630

Curator: Claude Lorrain created this etching, "The Tempest," sometime in the 17th century. It now resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Whoa, a maelstrom in miniature! It's got that raw, untamed energy. You can almost smell the salt and feel the spray. Curator: Lorrain was known for elevating landscape painting, embedding human drama within the grand sweep of nature. Editor: Right, the human figures become tiny players overwhelmed by the churning sea, which is a bit how I feel looking at it, honestly. Curator: Indeed. Consider how printmaking allowed these dramatic scenes to circulate widely, shaping perceptions of nature's power. Editor: Thinking about it, there's something so appealing about chaos rendered with such precision, a controlled storm. Curator: Perhaps that control mirrors the human desire to understand and depict the sublime, even when faced with its destructive force. Editor: Good point. I came in thinking pure chaos, but now I see the artist's hand, carefully conducting the storm.