Landscape with River and Castle c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Johann Caspar Ulinger's "Landscape with River and Castle." It's an undated print. I’m struck by the figure in the landscape—almost like a surveyor staking a claim. What do you make of it? Curator: It's fascinating how Ulinger positions this figure. Does it represent a nostalgic view of land ownership during a time of significant socio-economic change in Zurich? How might this idealized landscape contrast with the realities of rural life for the majority? Editor: That's a very interesting reading. I hadn't considered the social context. Curator: Considering this work alongside other landscapes of the period, we might ask, is Ulinger commenting on the power structures inherent in our relationship with the land? Editor: I see what you mean. It's more than just a pretty picture. Curator: Exactly! It's a window into how people of that time saw themselves and their place in a changing world.