Sinthaut c. 16th century

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we have "Sinthaut," an engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder. What strikes you first about this pastoral scene? Editor: It's evocative, yet also feels controlled. The detailed rendering and composition create a sense of ordered harmony. Curator: Collaert frequently incorporated symbolic elements in his works. The trees, for example, often represent growth, stability, and the connection between heaven and earth. Editor: The village spire dominating the horizon lends a distinctly hierarchical social weight to the scene. Curator: The figures on the road suggest a journey, perhaps a pilgrimage. Or a return home. The path is symbolic of a spiritual quest. Editor: Perhaps. Or the endless to and fro of commerce, its mundane paths worn into the land over time. Curator: The landscape is inviting, a reminder of nature's enduring power. Editor: The work certainly captures the enduring, and complex, relationship between humanity and the landscape.