A Rocky Landscape; verso: Study of Rocks c. 17th century

Editor: This is an anonymous drawing, titled "A Rocky Landscape," and its dating is unknown. The sepia ink gives it an aged look, almost like a memory. What do you see in this depiction of nature? Curator: I see more than just a landscape, I see a potential commentary on the romanticization of nature, perhaps a critique of its use to justify power structures. Who gets to claim ownership of this "rocky landscape," and for what purposes? How does the anonymous nature of its creation speak to broader questions of access and representation? Editor: That’s a powerful point. It shifts my perspective entirely. Curator: Exactly! Considering the historical and social context allows us to ask, whose stories are being told, and whose are being erased within this seemingly simple landscape? Editor: I never thought of landscape art in such an intersectional way. Thank you! Curator: It’s all about looking beneath the surface and questioning the narratives we inherit.