Dolomites I 

Robert Austin’s “Dolomites I” is a pencil drawing of a mountain range. Executed in the early to mid-twentieth century, this image participates in a longer tradition of landscape art. But what does it mean to depict the natural world? In Europe, the depiction of landscape became a popular genre as part of the rise of Romanticism. This was a philosophical and artistic movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the power of nature. Within the social context of industrialization, landscape art served as a reminder of the beauty and sublimity of the natural world at a time when nature was being transformed. The Italian Dolomites, with their majestic peaks, evoke just such powerful emotions, but their depiction is always mediated by social context. To better understand art we can consult a wide variety of documentary sources. For example, critics’ responses, the artist’s biography, and a history of artistic institutions are all important for a fuller understanding. The meaning of art is never self-evident, but always depends on the context in which it is made and viewed.