Die Natur im Stundenglas der Zeit

How Nature Becomes a Stage: Willibald Sauerländer on Poussin's Landscapes

Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) is considered one of the most significant painters of the 17th century. His clear yet poetic compositions profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists.

"The Nature in the Hourglass of Time" is the last book by the great art historian Willibald Sauerländer, who made a name for himself primarily through his relevant works on French art. Poussin's painting captivated him throughout his life—especially the landscapes, which are never solely about the natural world but always about places of memory, history, myths, and fate. Engaging with these narrative images and rediscovering their literary and art historical sources through Sauerländer's expert perspective is as fascinating as it is enlightening. Thus, these texts, published posthumously by Reinhold Baumstark, serve as a late gift to all art enthusiasts.

"My nature compels me to seek and love well-ordered things, to flee confusion, as light flees the darkest darkness." Nicolas Poussin

The legacy of the great Willibald Sauerländer. Nicolas Poussin – the most significant French landscape painter of the 17th century. Explorations through Poussin's narrative landscapes.