A curation by Flavio Scaloni, Gallery Manager at Galerie Lo Scalo - The theme of Locus Amoenus (Latin for "pleasant place") is a classical concept that profoundly inspires artists by representing an idealized, beautiful, and safe landscape—a secular Eden. It is typically associated with meanings of refuge, escape, tranquility, psychological harmony, and unspoiled nature. Symbolism often centers on lush flora, flowing water, and comfortable shade, denoting fertility and spiritual peace, offering a psychological counterpoint to the complexities of modern life. In Art History, especially from the mid-20th century onward, this ideal shifted, becoming both an object of pursuit and a site of critical reflection. Post-1950, while the core impulse remains, contemporary artists often imbue the "ideal landscape" with complexity, questioning its authenticity or exploring manufactured perfection. A famous example is David Hockney's vivid, light-drenched California pools and gardens (eg, A Bigger Splash, 1967), which depicts an affluent, modern locus amoenus. In photography, the world-famous Ansel Adams (although active earlier, his legacy shaped post-1950 views) captured the sublime, untouched American wilderness, establishing the high-water mark for the ideal landscape.