Mer de Glace, Valley of Chamouni, Savoy c. 19th century

Curator: J.M.W. Turner, the celebrated British Romantic painter, is the creator of this piece titled, "Mer de Glace, Valley of Chamouni, Savoy." Editor: The sepia tones give it such a somber, almost apocalyptic mood. The jagged peaks and turbulent ice flows evoke a sense of nature's overwhelming power. Curator: Yes, the sublime was a concept that fascinated artists in this period. Mountains, glaciers, and other awe-inspiring, immense features spoke to the limits of human understanding. Editor: It makes me think about the colonial gaze and the romanticization of untamed landscapes, often disregarding the indigenous populations whose lives were intertwined with these spaces. Curator: Certainly, and how these images became embedded in the collective memory. They continue to shape our understanding of landscape and our relationship to the natural world. Editor: A chilling reminder of the power structures that underpin even our most idyllic imaginings. Curator: Indeed, a reminder of what we choose to see, and what we overlook.