Ox-Cart in a Wind-Swept Landscape c. 1700

Curator: This is a small drawing, about 13 by 17 centimeters, attributed to Marco Ricci. It’s titled "Ox-Cart in a Wind-Swept Landscape." Editor: What a turbulent little world! The wind seems to whip right off the page. I'm immediately drawn to the way the trees are almost dancing, bending with an unseen force. Curator: Ricci really captures the energy of the wind. It also strikes me how stark the contrast is between the rough, almost frenzied lines of the landscape and the relative stillness of the ox-cart itself. Editor: I wonder what kind of paper he used here, and where it came from. The process of making drawings like this was certainly reliant on the trade networks of the time. Curator: Absolutely. Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, life, and labor, go on. Editor: It’s funny how a simple drawing can speak volumes about the conditions of its creation. Curator: Yes, perhaps a testament to how landscapes can reflect both the inner and outer worlds.