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19th Century Landscape
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot
The 19th century was the golden age of landscape painting in Europe and
America. Three aesthetic concepts established during the Romantic era
divided the natural world into categories: the Pastoral, the
Picturesque, and the Sublime. The first two represent
Nature as a comforting source of physical and spiritual sustenance. The
last, as articulated by Edmund Burke in his Philosophical Enquiry
into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757),
refers to the thrill and danger of confronting untamed Nature and its
overwhelming forces, such as thunderstorms and deep chasms. Whereas the
Pastoral and Picturesque reference mankind's ability to control the
natural world, the Sublime is a humbling reminder that humanity is not
all-powerful.
Pastoral landscapes celebrate the dominion of mankind over nature. The
scenes are peaceful, often depicting ripe harvests, lovely gardens,
manicured lawns with broad vistas, and fattened livestock. Man has
developed and tamed the landscape - it yields the necessities we need
to live, as well as beauty and safety. The Picturesque -- a category
developed in the late 1700s by clergyman and artist William Gilpin --
refers to the charm of discovering the landscape in its natural state. Gilpin
encouraged his followers to engage in "picturesque travel" - the goal of
which was to discover beauty created solely by Nature. The artist and
the viewer delight in unspoiled panoramas: sunsets behind majestic
mountains, an egret taking off from a quiet marsh, a deer bathed in a
shaft of light in the woods. These scenes are uplifting, but not
frightening.
Sublime images, on the other hand, show Nature at its most fearsome; in
fact, Burke believed that "terror is in all cases... the ruling
principle
of the sublime." There is an awe and reverence for the wild that to
Burke was akin to violent passion. Humanity is small and impotent in
front of raging rivers, dizzying cliffs and canyons, ferocious animals,
and violent storms. These works can also be uplifting, but in a deeply
spiritual way. The Sublime emphasizes God's dominion over humanity and
considers the possible folly in mankind's overriding confidence.
These three competing ways of looking at Nature are relevant today. In
the 21st century, we still debate humanity's right to use the planet for
only our own good. Global warming, mining rights, wildlife preservation
and land use are all controversial issues. As you look at these 19th
century landscapes, think about how artists over time have contributed
to our view of the natural world and its significance in our lives.
Visit our Exhibition History page for information
on past exhibitions at UAMA.
UAMA: (520) 621-7567
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