Landscape c. 18th century

Editor: This is a small etching called Landscape by Jean-Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non. The scene depicts a figure with a donkey crossing a bridge. There's something about the starkness of the cross in the landscape that feels unsettling to me. What do you make of this piece? Curator: The cross definitely speaks to the power structures embedded within seemingly idyllic landscapes. How might we interpret this cross, not just as a religious symbol, but as a marker of colonial or feudal power, shaping the lives and journeys of those figures crossing that bridge? Who benefits from this representation? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't considered the power dynamics at play. Curator: Considering the artist's social standing as an abbot, his perspective is inherently shaped by that position of privilege. Exploring the socioeconomic context can reveal a lot. Editor: I’ll definitely look at landscapes differently now. Curator: Excellent. These historical artworks speak to contemporary issues if we listen closely.