View of the Falls of the Rhine at Lauffen near Schaffhausen 1783

Curator: This is Friedrich Wilhelm Gmelin's "View of the Falls of the Rhine at Lauffen near Schaffhausen," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's overwhelmingly grey. The churning water, the sky, the rocky landscape—it all feels rather bleak, like industry has already touched this place. Curator: Interesting. I see it as a commentary on the sublime, but viewed through the lens of burgeoning modernity and the socio-political upheaval of the late 18th century. Those tiny figures feel so dwarfed by the natural forces at play. Editor: I am drawn to the material reality of those churning falls. It feels like Gmelin really understood the immense labor required to harness that water, even in 1790-something. The potential for energy, for work… Curator: Yes, and think about who had access to the Rhine's resources. Issues of class, land ownership, and access become central to understanding not just the landscape, but who benefits from it. Editor: Exactly. These landscapes aren't just picturesque; they're loaded with potential energy, with the social implications of natural resources ready for exploitation. Curator: A stark reminder that our relationship with nature is always mediated by power. Editor: Absolutely. It grounds the sublime in the very real struggles for resources and control.