Reiskoets in een berglandschap 1811 - 1873

Editor: This watercolor, "Reiskoets in een berglandschap," from between 1811 and 1873, attributed to Pieter van Loon, is quite striking. There's a lovely sense of tranquility despite the implication of travel and maybe even wealth. What catches your eye, what do you see when you look at this work? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the juxtaposition of elements. We have this man-made conveyance, the coach, filled with people, yet it's placed against a backdrop of the sublime: mountains, suggesting an indifferent and enduring nature. It is a Romantic trope about human’s fleeting existence versus the vastness and permanence of nature, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! It is also interesting that the scene seems so sparse, like they are the only people out on that day's travels. Curator: Yes, notice how the almost ghostly quality of the watercolor technique only adds to the atmosphere. Do you think it's presenting an idealized vision of travel? Are they really "experiencing" nature here, or just passing through in comfort? Consider also the horses, symbols of strength and progress, are these representative of wealth and also servitude, a hidden price perhaps? Editor: That's a great question, perhaps Pieter van Loon intended for the viewer to meditate on that juxtaposition, how nature provides beauty, but society necessitates that we 'pass through' in a rush? Also, how wealth changes the way we can appreciate the world? I really appreciate your thoughts on the symbols present within the painting! Curator: Indeed! And that is what this work gives back when considered through different lenses.