Panorama met vlakte bij Cannes gezien vanaf verhoging in landschap 1778

This watercolour and pen artwork capturing the view from an elevated position near Cannes was created by Louis Ducros. The panoramic composition stretches horizontally, emphasizing breadth and openness through its subdued palette of greens, greys, and pale blues, evoking a sense of tranquility. Ducros manipulates perspective to flatten the landscape, abstracting it into bands of tone and texture. This emphasis on surface and form aligns with the period's interest in how landscapes could be abstracted to communicate ideas about space and perception. We may consider it in terms of semiotics, where the colours and forms act as signs, communicating the essence of a place rather than its precise appearance. The limited colour range can be seen not as a deficit, but as a choice that challenges the traditional artistic values of illusionism. The very form of the panorama, its extended width, suggests a desire to capture a complete, unbroken view. Ultimately, it prompts viewers to reflect on how we perceive and represent the world around us, questioning whether art serves to mirror reality or to interpret and transform it.