Gezicht vanuit de Grotte delle Capre 1778

Louis Ducros rendered "Gezicht vanuit de Grotte delle Capre" in watercolor to capture a scene of leisure. It’s a picturesque moment frozen in time, a traveler and his mule paused in their journey. During the late 18th century, images of the Italian countryside were exceedingly popular, especially among Northern Europeans on the Grand Tour. Ducros, however, wasn't merely selling landscape. The figure’s turban marks him as “other,” imbuing the scene with an orientalist sensibility. The mule and its keeper are positioned near a dark cave, a place often associated with bandits and danger. It’s a strategic placing, as Ducros plays into the era’s fascination with the exotic while also subtly reminding viewers of the possible threats lurking just beyond the cultivated landscapes. By depicting the pair as unbothered, Ducros may subtly challenge stereotypes, offering a counter-narrative of peaceful coexistence. While the landscape genre often served to reinforce ideas of ownership and control, Ducros's depiction of an unmonumental moment invites viewers to consider the human element within these panoramas.