View in Istria Drawn from the Gulf of Carnero 1681

Editor: This is Melchior Küsel's "View in Istria Drawn from the Gulf of Carnero." It's an etching, and I’m immediately drawn to the dramatic landscape—the craggy rocks against the calm water. How would you interpret the contrast? Curator: It’s all about the sublime, isn't it? That interplay of wildness and serenity. Küsel captures that 18th-century fascination with untamed nature, but there’s a touch of human presence too. Do you see how the figures almost shrink beneath the grandeur of the scene? Editor: Yes, it feels like they're meant to emphasize the scale. Curator: Exactly! It's like Küsel's whispering, “Look how small we are.” Maybe that's strangely comforting? Editor: It does make you think. I hadn't considered that perspective. Curator: Art’s about seeing, then feeling, then… well, feeling seen, perhaps.