Bergmeer in de schaduw van donker geboomte, erachter lichte heuvels en sneeuwtoppen 1800 - 1900

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a delicate watercolor work by Ernest Cicéri. It’s titled “Bergmeer in de schaduw van donker geboomte, erachter lichte heuvels en sneeuwtoppen,” or "Mountain lake in the shadow of dark trees, behind it light hills and snow-capped peaks." The painting probably dates from the 19th century. Editor: Well, "delicate" is the word. It’s mostly gradations of gray and brown. You feel the chill coming off those distant snow-capped peaks. Brrr! It’s a very moody, almost haunting, piece. Curator: It certainly captures the spirit of Romanticism, doesn't it? That focus on sublime nature, the almost spiritual quality of landscape. Notice the dark, looming trees in the foreground contrasting with the soft, ethereal mountains in the distance. There’s a real sense of awe and perhaps even a touch of melancholy. Editor: I'm wondering about the production process, actually. Watercolor at this scale implies portability, right? So, was Cicéri on site, recording the specifics of this vista? Or did he use sketches to conjure up this scene later, safely in his studio? The labor would be completely different, with equally varied results. Curator: It's easy to imagine him right there, beside the lake, braving the elements to capture the precise tonal shifts in the sky! But you are right—that’s not a Romantic notion—studying the making itself invites other possibilities. Editor: Plus, thinking about his watercolor washes—what kind of paper was available? Was he grinding his own pigments? How was art being sold at this point—who had access to it, or to views like this one of snow-topped mountains? This piece opens out onto such a wealth of production concerns. Curator: Exactly. The materiality reveals the artistic culture. Still, even knowing very little about Cicéri, or 19th century paper and pigments, that subtle gradations and somber palette is undeniably transporting. Editor: True, but being transported by the product becomes so much richer when you contemplate the process, no? Curator: Absolutely.