Landscape Number 71 c. 19th century

Curator: Alexandre Calame, a Swiss artist who died in 1864, created this, "Landscape Number 71." It feels to me like a meditation on the sublime. Editor: It strikes me as stark and a bit desolate. What materials did he use to achieve this effect? Curator: It's hard to say for sure from just looking at it. He was known for lithography. The texture of the rocks, the way the water meets the cliffs, it all seems to embody nature's power. Editor: Lithography allows for interesting textures, doesn't it? Think of the labor involved to produce this image! What kind of statement did it make, being reproduced in such a medium? Curator: It speaks to the romantic view of nature, a counterpoint to the industrial revolution, perhaps? A longing for an idealized past. Editor: Maybe it's a testament to the beauty of the natural world, but also the increasing accessibility of art through printmaking. Curator: A landscape of yearning, indeed. Editor: An intriguing intersection of nature, labor, and access.