Landscape with a River and a Grove of Trees c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jean Morin's "Landscape with a River and a Grove of Trees." It is a lovely, small, detailed etching. What strikes me is how self-contained it feels within that oval. What do you make of it? Curator: The oval format, common in Morin's time, does create a sense of contained space, almost a world of its own. Consider how this reflects the 17th-century desire to categorize and master the natural world. How does this relate to broader colonial projects? Editor: So, the landscape isn't just a pretty scene, but also an assertion of dominance? Curator: Precisely. Landscape art often served to legitimize territorial claims and celebrate the power of the ruling class. The seemingly innocent portrayal of nature is deeply intertwined with social and political ideologies. Editor: That’s given me a lot to think about. I never considered that a landscape could be so loaded. Curator: Indeed. Art encourages us to question the narratives we often take for granted.