Site of the Ancient Town of Plurs c. 18th century

Curator: This is Salomon Gessner's "Site of the Ancient Town of Plurs." I find the mood quite somber, almost desolate. Editor: The stark contrast created by the etching process really accentuates the raw materiality of the landscape. It feels like a critique of pastoral ideals. Curator: Considering Plurs was destroyed by a landslide in the 17th century, it speaks to a loss of control over nature, a potent symbol of human vulnerability. Editor: Indeed. And Gessner, working in the late 18th century, must have been aware of the shifts in land use and resource extraction that contributed to such disasters. Curator: The figures are dwarfed by the mountains, emphasizing the power imbalance between humanity and its environment. It's quite a powerful statement. Editor: Absolutely. It makes me think about how landscape art can be a site of both romanticization and, in this case, a sharp social commentary on environmental change.