The prologue of this essay outlines the contemporary aspects of geomorphology. The first part recalls the two meanings of the word ‘relief ’ in French. Then the paper proposes to take a fresh look on landforms and processes in geomorphology, on the one hand by deciphering the aesthetic dimension of the toposphere, on the other hand through the examination of the socio-economic status of geomorphic components of landscapes in the Anthropocene. The epilogue is an invitation to merge the outburst of emotions and the elements of understanding.