1. What features of the landscape stand out in this painting?
2. How is nature depicted in the painting?
3. What do you think is the significance of the ruins of the castle in the right foreground of the painting?
4. How does this painting present the relationship between human beings and nature?
5. Different works of art present different views of nature. Do you think that nature has a particular essence, such as threatening or peaceful? Why or why not? Does nature have a particular relationship to human beings? If so, what is it and why do you think so?
6. Compare this image to The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. Do you think Westerners have a different view of nature than non-Westerners? Why or why not?
7. In this landscape, and many of the other landscapes on this site, “nature” always shows some sign of human presence. Is there a correct way for human beings to interact with nature? What might it be and why do you think so?

More information on this painting from the National Gallery

Landscape Overview and Resources

Landscapes are works of art that focus on scenes from nature. The landscapes featured in this unit encourage discussion about how the natural world is depicted and our relationship to the natural world.

Overview of the landscape genre from the J. Paul Getty Museum


Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on environmental ethics

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