Great Frozen Valley near Chamouny in Savoy c. 18th century

Curator: The sheer scale makes me feel insignificant. The peaks dwarf the figures in the foreground. Editor: This is William Woollett's "Great Frozen Valley near Chamouny in Savoy," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Woollett was an English engraver who died in 1785, so this work likely dates to the late 18th century. Curator: The mountains evoke a sense of timelessness. Their jagged edges, almost like teeth, suggest power and enduring strength. I feel a primal connection, a recognition of nature’s dominance. Editor: Landscapes such as this one became popular in Britain as the concept of "the sublime" took hold—the idea that nature could evoke feelings of awe and terror. Tourism and the rise of printmaking certainly played a role in circulating these images. Curator: I see the figures almost as symbols themselves – humanity venturing into the unknown, humbled by the immensity of the natural world. Editor: A fitting thought, given the way landscape painting helped shape national identity and aesthetic sensibilities. I leave with a renewed awareness of how art captures not just a place but an idea.