Portuguese countryside by Arie Kattenberg

About "Portuguese countryside"

by Arie Kattenberg

About the artwork

This picture shows a typical northern Portuguese landscape with mountains,a river branching off, viticulture with grape fields, storage for viticulture (tools etc.) and local flora. All this in a Mediterranean climate with bright blue sky and lots of sunshine.

The photo was taken during the corona pandemic in 2021 and shows nature and viticulture at the time when no tourists are present. The water is also unnavigated, the skies show no aeroplane streaks and there is complete tranquillity. The complete peace and strength of nature inspired me to take this picture.
Besides, there has been a lot of suffering in the corona pandemic and I also wanted to show that many beautiful things happened in nature, and that sometimes the corona measures also ensured peace in nature and its recovery.

The atmosphere you feel in the picture is that of calm and stepping out of the hustle and bustle of the everyday for a while. Nature is prominent and the Mediterranean climate gives that extra blanket of warmth and happiness in this photo. The emotion I want to convey is that of bliss of being in nature, with nice weather, in the Mediterranean region.

The photo was taken from a higher point on a mountain road and was part of a series of photos's from and panorama. From these, this photo was selected ls typical of the feeling I wanted to show.

Within the interior, this work gives a sense of tranquillity, being one with nature, and a feeling of "stepping out of the everyday for a while". As if you were on holiday and enjoying yourself.