Achtentwintig gezichten in Zwitserland 1832

Curator: So many tiny worlds, aren't they? I feel like I'm looking into a series of slightly faded, antique snow globes. Editor: That’s a beautiful way to put it. What we're looking at here is an etching titled "Achtentwintig gezichten in Zwitserland" which translates to "Twenty-eight Views in Switzerland," dating back to 1832. It resides here with us at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Twenty-eight tiny portals! I can almost smell the pine needles and damp earth from here. It's an idealized, almost fairytale-like version of Switzerland, don’t you think? Very Romantic in its sensibility. Editor: Precisely. And it speaks to the era's fascination with the picturesque. The Alps, in particular, were being codified as a symbol of sublime natural beauty. The etchings capture architectural markers amidst expansive landscapes. Curator: I imagine people pinning these up in their homes, little glimpses of far-off beauty, kind of like postcards before postcards were really a thing. Did owning such an image change perceptions of access and privilege? Editor: Definitely. The commodification of landscape art intersected with evolving ideas of national identity and access to travel. The images are about shaping perceptions as much as representing places. Curator: I get the sense the people that lived there would think that the place is quite nice. The houses nestled into the landscape... cozy little vignettes. How much do you think these are constructed versus actual landscape representations? Editor: A healthy dose of both. Artists would certainly accentuate certain features, remove unsightly elements. Even the compositions are often organized according to established artistic conventions, reflecting not just what’s there, but the artist’s interpretation. Curator: Which makes it a Swiss dreamscape! Thanks to our friend, the etcher. It reminds me of old family vacations where there are all these little images stitched together into something cohesive but slightly separate as memories... like each snapshot tries to capture an entire summer! Editor: And that really speaks to the enduring power of images to evoke emotions. It is all quite poetic and picturesque. A snapshot of the Romantic gaze. Curator: Indeed! An archive of yearning.