Bosgezicht met twee figuren bij een beek 1852 - 1855

This print, "Wooded Landscape with Two Figures by a Stream," was created by Alexandre Calame, a Swiss artist, most likely during the mid-19th century. Calame, who taught at the Geneva Academy of Art, was well known for his romanticized depictions of the Swiss landscape. At the time, landscape painting was a vital element in developing national identity. With industrialization and urbanization on the rise, paintings like this idealized the rural landscape as something inherently good, that spoke to Swiss virtue. Here, we can see the sharp contrast between the untamed wilderness, and the two small figures on the rock, a visual reminder of humanity's small impact on nature. To understand more about Calame's romantic landscapes, look into the relationship between 19th century art academies and the rise of nationalism in Europe. By doing so, we can better appreciate the complex relationship between art, identity and social change.