Wooded Landscape with a Herdsman c. 18th century

Curator: This is Cornelis Ploos van Amstel’s "Wooded Landscape with a Herdsman," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has such a peaceful, almost dreamy quality. The sepia tones give it a feeling of distance, like a memory. Curator: The medium certainly contributes. Ploos van Amstel was known for his reproductive prints; drawings like this were likely studies, informing his understanding of line and tone. Editor: It’s more than just study, though. There’s a real sensitivity in the way he captures the light filtering through the trees, the curve of the path. It’s almost as if the landscape is breathing. Curator: Of course. And considering the burgeoning art market, a piece like this would have been relatively accessible, bringing a touch of nature and refinement into a middle-class home. Editor: Definitely. I can almost smell the damp earth and hear the rustle of leaves. It’s an invitation to slow down, to connect with something larger than ourselves. Curator: Well said. Perhaps the most lasting appeal lies in its ability to transport us. Editor: Exactly, I’ll take a little bit of that transport, anytime.