Two Peasants on a Forested Lakeshore c. 19th century

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Alexandre Calame’s print, “Two Peasants on a Forested Lakeshore,” currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's immediately striking how the artist uses light and shadow to create depth. The density of the foliage in the foreground really contrasts with the misty distance. Curator: Indeed, the textural variations achieved through the etching process are quite remarkable. Note how the artist manipulates the etched lines to define form and space. Editor: And the subject! It's all about landscape, and the humble figures become part of the working scenery. I wonder what kind of labor they're performing, or if they are just walking through... Curator: The composition invites contemplation, doesn't it? Calame structures the scene to emphasize the formal balance between the natural and the human elements. Editor: It certainly highlights the relationship between people and the natural resources around them. Makes you consider how people affect a landscape. Curator: A point well taken, emphasizing the interconnectedness within the pictorial space. Editor: Absolutely, it all comes back to what's gained or taken in the production of the piece.