Mediterranean Landscape with a White House 1900 - 1905

Henri-Edmond Cross rendered this Mediterranean landscape with watercolor, capturing a white house amidst lush vegetation. The house, a stark white cube, is a symbol of civilization and order set against the backdrop of nature's wildness. The image evokes the classical theme of Arcadia, an idyllic vision of pastoral life, but with modern anxiety. Since ancient times, a dwelling has represented shelter and security, but here it appears isolated, almost vulnerable. Think back to the Tower of Babel, symbolizing humanity's ambition and its ultimate failure, a cautionary tale about reaching too high, or of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun. This white house, could it be a beacon of hope or a sign of impending solitude? Its starkness against the vibrant landscape stirs something within us—a collective memory of both the promise and the peril of human endeavor. It's a cycle endlessly repeated.