Landscape c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Edward Willmann's "Landscape," a print from the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so heavy, almost foreboding, with the dark sky and sprawling land. What do you see in this piece, considering its historical context? Curator: Well, this landscape, though seemingly simple, participates in a long history of romanticizing nature. Consider how rapidly industrialization transformed landscapes during Willmann's time. Editor: So, the "natural" world itself became politicized? Curator: Exactly! Images like this offered an escape, a commentary on what was being lost. Think about who had access to such imagery. Was this intended for the working class, or a wealthier patron? Editor: I hadn’t considered that, but now I realize how social class influences even our view of nature. Curator: Precisely! Art is never truly separate from the society that produces it.