The world in a frame: Landscape pictures

A horizontal line dividing the sectino of a picture into two unequal halves is enough to convey the idea of a landscape. We follow practiced patterns of perception and see a section of reality in a framed picture – comparable to a window frame that contains a view.

Collected here are landscape pictures from three centuries in various media and styles. Compare: faithful depictions of nature can be found alongside examples that only hint at the landscape in a few strokes or focus on the atmosphere of the landscape.

Landscape painting was essential in preparing the ground for 20th century abstraction. And as atmospheric painting it stimulates emotions.