Gezicht op Nörten-Hardenberg 1770 - 1826

Editor: Here we have a drawing, "Gezicht op Nörten-Hardenberg," dating from around 1770 to 1826, by an anonymous artist. It's done with etching and pen on what looks like aged paper, and evokes such a serene, almost wistful feeling in me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Wistful is spot-on, and thanks for drawing my attention to that, since for me, that feeling emanates from the hazy horizon, doesn't it? Look how the artist invites us to gaze upon this gentle, rolling landscape with its tiny figures. The architecture in the center suggests community, doesn't it? Though I find myself most drawn to the pen work that depicts that humble pair making their way up that steep grade... do you get the feeling that they want to be alone up there? Editor: Yes, that slope almost separates them from everything else. The drawing style itself seems so precise yet the scene feels incredibly spacious. The idea of this Romantic landscape captured in such a meticulous way is pretty unique. I mean, would you agree that such precision must affect one’s experience of that Romantic feeling of sublime wonder and all? Curator: You’ve struck a deep chord now! I love your reflection, particularly the paradox in that spaciousness achieved through meticulous detail... Perhaps it is that contrast that defines the entire Romantic impulse! Think of Turner's seascapes! The vastness of the sea carefully rendered in exquisite detail is itself the source of our wonderment, of the Romantic thrill... Editor: Right, it all seems more complex than it initially seemed. It's fascinating how much one can discover in a seemingly simple sketch. Thanks so much for your perspective. Curator: Absolutely. My pleasure! I will try to bear in mind the precise touch of Romantic sublimity!