Political landscape : the art history of nature

London: Reaktion Books, 1995 — 192 p. — ISBN-10: 0948462620; ISBN-13: 978-0948462627. We all know what 'the political landscape' is, and politicians and journalists never tire of referring to it. But in this ingenious and original book, Martin Warnke takes that well-worn metaphor literally and uses it to reveal just how politicized the real landscape of continental Europe has been for centuries. The author finds his evidence of humanity's intervention in nature in the form of monuments and milestones, gardens, roads and border crossings, in landscape paintings and maps – even, in fact, in the anthropomorphic interpretations once given to formations of hills and rocks. The Political Landscape is underpinned with a fascinating array of examples and illustrations, many of which will be new even to experts in the art of landscape and related disciplines. Contents The Occupation of the Plain Hills and Castles From Battlefield to War Landscape Nature's Freedom as Political Freedom Natural Forces and Natural Forms Political Nature Imagery Conclusion If a river runs through it, somewhere there is bound to be a bridge. Little in the landscape remains untouched by human hands, and every touch, from the simplest ditch to the most intricate monument, reveals a political decision or design. This is how Martin Warnke, one of Germany's leading art historians, looks at landscape in this book, which leads to a new way of seeing nature as we have appropriated, represented, and transformed it over time. Covering nearly a thousand years and most of western Europe, Political Landscape provides a compelling summary history of modern humanity's ill-fated attempt to master nature. Warnke finds evidence of the politicized landscape everywhere, on nature's own ground and in art, artifacts, and architecture, in features defined by the demands of conquest and defense, property rights and picturesque improvement, trade, tradition, communication, and commemoration. Whether considering the role of landscape in battle depictions; or investigating monumental figures from the Colossus of Rhodes to Mount Rushmore; or asking why gold backgrounds in paintings gave way to mountains topped with castles; Political Landscape reconfigures our idea of landscape, its significance, and its representations. The book sharpens our perceptions of nature in art and as art - a nature charged with symbol and meaning as a result of interventions by turns enlightened, insensitive, or, as now, dangerously corrosive. Political Landscape: The Art History of Nature 5 Imprint Page 6 Contents 7 Preface 9 1. The Occupation of the Plain 11 2. Hills and Castles 41 3. From Battlefield of War Landscape 55 4. Nature's Freedom as Political Freedom 77 5. Natural Forces and Natural Forms 91 6. Political Nature Imagery 117 Conclusion 147 References 149 List of Illustrations 161 Politicians and journalists never tire of referring to "the political landscape". This book takes the well-worn metaphor literally and uses it to show how politicized the real landscape of continental Europe has been for centuries, with many examples of humanity's intervention in nature.