Landscape vs. Cityscape — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 8, 2024
Landscape captures natural environments like mountains and rivers, while cityscape focuses on urban settings, highlighting buildings and streets.
Difference Between Landscape and Cityscape
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Landscape photography or painting primarily showcases natural scenes, focusing on elements like forests, rivers, and mountains to evoke the feeling of being in nature. Whereas cityscape, a genre in its own right, concentrates on urban environments, highlighting the architectural beauty, density, and energy of cities through depictions of buildings, streets, and urban life.
Landscapes are often associated with tranquility, beauty, and the organic flow of nature, aiming to capture the serenity or wildness of natural settings. On the other hand, cityscapes convey the hustle and bustle of urban life, the geometric patterns of architecture, and the dynamic interaction between light and structures.
While landscape artists and photographers might seek out golden hours (dawn and dusk) to capture the natural beauty in the best light, cityscape creators often exploit night lights, reflections, and the contrast between natural and artificial light to bring out the vibrancy of urban settings.
In terms of subject matter, landscapes often lack the human element, focusing instead on the timeless aspect of nature, untouched by human hands. Conversely, cityscapes are inherently human-centric, showcasing human ingenuity through the lens of urban development and architectural achievements.
Landscape art and photography can evoke a sense of escapism, leading viewers to imagine themselves in peaceful, untouched environments. Cityscapes, however, may evoke feelings of awe or contemplation about human society, its complexities, and the beauty of human-made landscapes.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Natural environments (e.g., forests, mountains)
Urban settings (e.g., buildings, streets)
Mood Evoked
Tranquility, natural beauty
Hustle of urban life, architectural beauty
Preferred Light
Golden hours (dawn and dusk)
Night lights, contrast between natural and artificial light
Human Element
Often absent, focusing on nature
Inherently present through urban development
Main Appeal
Timelessness, untouched nature
Human ingenuity, architectural achievements
Compare with Definitions
Landscape
A genre of art.
His landscape paintings capture the serene beauty of the countryside.
Cityscape
Urban environment as subject matter.
The cityscape at night, with all the lights, is mesmerizing to photograph.
Landscape
Natural scenery.
The landscape outside the window was a breathtaking view of mountains and forests.
Cityscape
Photographic depiction of city life.
His cityscape photos show a unique blend of architecture and street life.
Landscape
The act of modifying land features.
We plan to landscape our backyard to include a garden and a small pond.
Cityscape
A genre of art focusing on cities.
Her cityscape paintings vividly capture the essence of urban life.
Landscape
A comprehensive perspective.
The book provides a landscape view of the historical events of the century.
Cityscape
The visible features of a city.
The cityscape from the rooftop included iconic skyscrapers and bridges.
Landscape
All the visible features of an area of land, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal
The soft colours of the Northumbrian landscape
A bleak urban landscape
Cityscape
An abstract representation of urban spaces.
The artist's abstract cityscapes use color and shape to evoke the feeling of a bustling city.
Landscape
Digital or printed layout.
The document is best viewed in landscape mode to accommodate the wide table.
Cityscape
In the visual arts, a cityscape (urban landscape) is an artistic representation, such as a painting, drawing, print or photograph, of the physical aspects of a city or urban area. It is the urban equivalent of a landscape.
Landscape
A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features. A landscape includes the physical elements of geophysically defined landforms such as (ice-capped) mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of land use, buildings, and structures, and transitory elements such as lighting and weather conditions.
Cityscape
An artistic representation, such as a painting or photograph, of a city.
Landscape
Denoting a format of printed matter which is wider than it is high
Landscape format
Cityscape
A city or section of a city regarded as a scene
"the vast cityscape of lower Manhattan" (New Yorker).
Landscape
Make (a garden or other area of ground) more attractive by altering the existing design, adding ornamental features, and planting trees and shrubs
The site has been tastefully landscaped
Cityscape
The view of the buildings of a city, usually referring to a pictured landscape.
Landscape
An expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
A desert landscape.
Cityscape
A viewpoint toward a city or other heavily populated area;
The dominant character of the cityscape is it poverty
Landscape
A picture depicting an expanse of scenery.
Cityscape
Painting depicting a city or urban area
Landscape
The branch of art dealing with the representation of natural scenery.
Landscape
The aspect of the land characteristic of a particular region
A bleak New England winter landscape.
Landscape
Grounds that have been landscaped
Liked the house especially for its landscape.
Landscape
An extensive mental view; an interior prospect
"They occupy the whole landscape of my thought" (James Thurber).
Landscape
The orientation of a page such that the shorter side runs from top to bottom.
Landscape
To adorn or improve (a section of ground) by contouring and by planting flowers, shrubs, or trees.
Landscape
To arrange grounds aesthetically or maintain grounds as a profession.
Landscape
A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a single view, including all the objects it contains.
Landscape
A sociological aspect of a physical area.
Landscape
A picture representing a real or imaginary scene by land or sea, the main subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields, hills, forests, water, etc.
Landscape
The pictorial aspect of a country.
Landscape
A mode of printing where the horizontal sides are longer than the vertical sides
Landscape
A space, indoor or outdoor and natural or man-made (as in "designed landscape")
Landscape
(figuratively) a situation that is presented, a scenario
The software patent landscape has changed considerably in the last years
Landscape
To create or maintain a landscape.
Landscape
A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a single view, including all the objects it contains.
Landscape
A picture representing a scene by land or sea, actual or fancied, the chief subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields, hills, forests, water. etc. Compare seascape.
Landscape
The pictorial aspect of a country.
The landscape of his native country had taken hold on his heart.
Landscape
An expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
Landscape
Painting depicting an expanse of natural scenery
Landscape
A genre of art dealing with the depiction of natural scenery
Landscape
An extensive mental viewpoint;
The political landscape looks bleak without a change of administration
We changed the landscape for solving the proble of payroll inequity
Landscape
Embellish with plants;
Let's landscape the yard
Landscape
Do landscape gardening;
My sons landscapes for corporations and earns a good living
Common Curiosities
What is a landscape?
A landscape refers to any visible natural scenery that might include forests, mountains, rivers, or fields.
Can landscapes include water bodies?
Yes, landscapes can include rivers, lakes, and seas as key elements of natural scenery.
How do cityscapes reflect urban life?
Cityscapes reflect urban life through depictions of architectural styles, urban density, and the interplay of light and shadow in city settings.
Why do artists choose landscapes?
Artists may choose landscapes to evoke a sense of tranquility, showcase natural beauty, or convey environmental messages.
What defines a cityscape?
A cityscape is an artistic or photographic representation focusing on urban environments, particularly highlighting buildings, streets, and the urban layout.
What time of day is best for capturing landscapes?
The golden hours, just after sunrise and just before sunset, are often considered the best times for capturing landscapes.
What role does lighting play in cityscapes?
Lighting plays a crucial role in cityscapes, highlighting architectural features, creating contrasts, and setting the mood of the urban environment.
Is there a crossover between landscapes and cityscapes?
Yes, there can be a crossover in views where natural elements integrate with urban settings, creating a blend of both landscapes and cityscapes.
Can cityscapes include people?
Yes, cityscapes can include people to add life, scale, and context to the urban environment.
Can a landscape be man-made?
While landscapes are primarily natural, man-made features like gardens or cultivated lands can also be considered part of a landscape.
How do cityscapes contribute to art?
Cityscapes contribute to art by documenting urban transformation, exploring architectural beauty, and expressing the vibrancy and complexity of city life.
Are cityscapes only captured in photographs?
No, cityscapes can be depicted through various mediums including paintings, drawings, and digital art, besides photography.
How do landscapes and cityscapes affect viewers emotionally?
Landscapes can evoke feelings of peace and awe towards nature's beauty, while cityscapes can stir emotions related to the energy and complexity of urban life.
Do landscapes always have to be rural?
Not necessarily; landscapes can include semi-urban settings or natural areas on the outskirts of cities, not just rural environments.
Are there specific techniques used for cityscape photography?
Cityscape photography often utilizes techniques like long exposures, HDR, and careful composition to capture the essence of urban environments.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.