Beyond gardens and nature reserves: Contemporaneous landscapes

Abstract

There have been many attempts at providing definitions of landscape, and many points of view have been expressed. The word paysageis not based on a latin one, which explains the lack of consensus as regards its meaning. The word appears to be based on the term pays is which refers to a physical environment. The Littrédictionary mentions that paysage (landscape) is both an area of flat land which can be observed and a country-style type of painting.The word therefore has several meanings and is very widely used. But what landscape are we talking about at a time where everything is part of the landscape? The word is overused and this results in confusion. What role did the pays play in the invention of paysage? What is the place of nature in it? What is the relationship between man and landscape?.