Plate XII c. 19th century

Curator: Scheuren's "Plate XII" presents a rugged landscape, a scene etched with striking detail. Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the massive, almost precariously balanced boulder. It evokes a sense of both power and fragility. Curator: Indeed. The landscape, likely rendered with a copper plate, demonstrates Scheuren’s engagement with the traditions of landscape printmaking. The labour involved in crafting these minute lines invites contemplation of craft itself. Editor: The smoke rising in the background, the herder with his goats – they all contribute to a pastoral narrative, perhaps alluding to man's humble place within nature's grandeur. Curator: And the paper upon which this scene is etched speaks to production and distribution. These works were more accessible than paintings, offering a broader audience access to such scenes. Editor: It feels like a timeless tableau, a visual poem about the enduring presence of nature and its symbolic weight. Curator: Absolutely. Considering the materials and context enriches our experience. Editor: And contemplating those symbols allows the landscape to become something more.