Arreau - Vue de la route du col d'Aspin 

"Arreau - Vue de la route du col d'Aspin" is a lithograph by Maxime Lalanne, offering us a glimpse into the French Pyrenees through the eyes of a 19th-century artist. Consider the social context: Lalanne, born in 1827, came of age during a time of significant social and political change in France, and landscape art was a popular genre, often reflecting a romanticized view of nature. This vista of the Aspin Pass isn't merely a depiction of mountains; it speaks to the cultural values of the time, to the relationship between humanity and nature. What does it mean to look at a landscape through the lens of the 19th century, and how does our contemporary understanding of environment, shaped by awareness of climate change and ecological concerns, change our perception of this image? While the lithograph appears serene, it prompts us to reflect on our place in nature, and on the ways in which landscapes are laden with cultural and historical meanings.