Gezicht op Vitznau, aan de voet van de Rigi-berg before 1898

Editor: We're looking at a page from what seems to be an old book. The print shows “Gezicht op Vitznau, aan de voet van de Rigi-berg,” or “View of Vitznau, at the foot of Mount Rigi," made before 1898. The whole image feels sort of whimsical, almost like a scene from a storybook with decorative elements framing the text. What do you notice here? Curator: It reminds me of old travel guides, doesn't it? Back then, experiencing a place through images like this one was an imaginative act. We didn’t just see Vitznau; we imagined ourselves there. It's almost like peeking through a looking glass into another era, filled with anticipation for these faraway destinations and idyllic sceneries. There's something touchingly naïve in how such landscapes were portrayed. It makes me wonder what the artist hoped the viewer would dream about, what feelings this print would awaken. Editor: I love that—it definitely speaks to a kind of aspirational tourism. I hadn’t thought about it like that. So, beyond the surface-level picturesque scenery, you see a deeper intent of evoking wanderlust. Do you think it was successful in capturing that essence? Curator: Well, put yourself in the shoes of someone from that time, poring over these pages, dreaming of adventure, maybe saving up for a grand tour! This print offers them an escape and paints the scenery to incite desire for travel! Even now, gazing at this little portal of an image makes me long for fresh Alpine air. Doesn’t it give you that whimsical longing, too? Editor: Absolutely! I am completely dreaming of mountains now. This has given me a completely new perspective on the artwork and the way that one can feel transported when viewing art from the past. Thank you!