Panorama from the Sasso 1649 - 1655

Claude Lorrain's "Panorama from the Sasso" invites us to consider the European gaze upon the Italian landscape. Lorrain, working in the 17th century, crafted this ink and wash drawing which reflects a period of burgeoning exploration and colonization, where landscapes were not just scenes, but assertions of possession and power. Notice the lone figure sitting on the wall. Is he a shepherd, a traveler, or perhaps Lorrain himself? His presence suggests a claiming of this vista, a visual staking of territory. The warm sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, perhaps mirroring the artist's own longing for an idealized, classical past. Lorrain was celebrated for his ability to capture light, but I think he was even better at composing the land. This drawing encapsulates the complex interplay between nature, culture, and identity, asking us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose landscapes are valued.