Flodlandskab med to fiskere 1603 - 1655

Herman van Swanevelt made this landscape with two fishermen using etching techniques. This print invites us to consider the transformation of the natural landscape of seventeenth-century Europe, as well as the depiction of classical themes in visual culture. Painted in the Netherlands, this etching presents a romanticized view of rural life, but it also speaks to a time of significant social and economic change. The presence of both fishermen and livestock suggests a society that still relies on traditional modes of subsistence, but the artist also incorporates classical elements. The landscape is dotted with ruins reminiscent of ancient Roman aqueducts. Swanevelt spent a long time in Rome and his Italianate landscapes are indicative of his time there. As viewers, we should ask what is staged versus what is real. By examining historical records, such as agricultural surveys, estate inventories, and travel accounts, we can better understand the context in which this print was made.