Fantasie c. 19th century

Curator: The tempestuous sea really commands your attention in this piece. Editor: It does. This is "Fantasie" by Andreas Achenbach, part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at how he orchestrates the contrasting darks and lights to convey such drama. Curator: Right, it almost feels like a prelude to Romanticism's obsession with nature's sublime power over human endeavors. I wonder what a coastal community might have felt looking at such a depiction? Editor: Perhaps a reminder of the precarity of life tied to the sea. But the composition, the interplay of light and shadow, it's a masterful example of pictorial drama. Curator: Indeed, Achenbach’s command of line and tone creates a visceral experience. Editor: Well, it certainly gives one pause to reflect on the awesome force of nature.