Chapel on the Battlefield of Sempach c. 18th century

Editor: So this is Salomon Gessner's "Chapel on the Battlefield of Sempach." It's an etching, so just black lines on paper. I'm struck by the contrast between the serene setting and the violent history of the battlefield. What story do you think Gessner is trying to tell? Curator: Ah, a landscape imbued with memory. For me, the power lies in that very tension. Gessner invites us into a space of quiet contemplation, yet the weight of the past lingers. It's almost as if the trees themselves are bearing witness. Notice how they frame the chapel, creating a sense of reverence. Does that resonance with you? Editor: It does. I hadn't thought of the trees as witnesses. It’s like they're guarding a secret. I guess beauty and sorrow can coexist, even in the same place. Curator: Exactly. The past isn't something we simply leave behind; it shapes the present, coloring our experience of the world around us.