Schaaning Fossen i Tisdedahlen ved Friderichshald 1797 - 1842

Editor: We’re looking at "Schaaning Fossen i Tisdedahlen ved Friderichshald" by Heinrich Grosch, a mixed-media print including aquatint and watercolor, made sometime between 1797 and 1842. The scene feels…almost theatrical. So dramatic. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Immediately, the moon. It's a strong symbol of illumination, and perhaps romantic longing. What's particularly interesting is the visual interplay between the natural moon and the man-made fires. Do you notice how the firelight mimics the moon’s glow, reflecting human attempts to emulate and perhaps control the natural world? Editor: Yes, the fires really stand out, with all that smoke! Is that just a genre scene, depicting daily life? Curator: Possibly, but think about the act of controlling fire: culturally and psychologically, it speaks to transformation and power. Note where the smoke obscures and highlights certain elements. Grosch guides our vision through calculated use of light and shadow, controlling what we see, inviting us to piece the narrative together. Editor: So it's not just a picture of a waterfall… it's about…power? Curator: And control. It begs questions, doesn't it? How do these figures relate to this landscape, what is their purpose within the narrative, and whose purpose is being amplified? It really causes one to think about humankind’s relationship to nature, at the time and in ours. Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective on this piece, to think of these different layers of symbolism working together! Thanks so much. Curator: My pleasure. It's these layers that make this so fascinating and meaningful.