The Kärstelenbach on the S. Gotthard Road c. 18th century

Curator: So, here we have "The Kärstelenbach on the S. Gotthard Road" by Johann Heinrich Meyer. He was active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Editor: My first thought? A serene sort of grandeur—those mountains seem to swallow you whole. Curator: Indeed. Meyer captures this kind of overwhelming, sublime landscape that was popular at the time, especially among those who travelled. The detail in the mountains really draws you in. Editor: It does—but it's also a little…distant? The buildings and figures are tiny, as if dwarfed by the natural world. It’s like he is trying to capture the sense of human insignificance. Curator: I see what you mean! Perhaps it’s Meyer’s way of reminding us of the power and permanence of nature in contrast to our own fleeting existence. Editor: Maybe so. It's a nice thought to end on.