Landschap met de reiziger die door de barmhartige Samaritaan wordt verzorgd c. 1560 - 1595

This landscape showing the Good Samaritan was made by Julius Goltzius, probably in the late 16th century, using an engraving technique. Engraving involves painstakingly cutting lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you can appreciate the labor invested in creating this intricate scene. Notice how the varying density of lines creates a sense of depth, light, and texture, from the delicate foliage to the rolling hills. The engraver’s skill transforms a humble metal plate into a window onto another world. But why choose engraving for a landscape? It's a clue that this image was designed for wide circulation. Prints like this were relatively affordable, making art accessible to a broader audience. So, while seemingly traditional, the choice of engraving hints at an emerging art market, one where images could be reproduced and consumed on a scale previously unimaginable. This print reveals the social and economic context in which it was made.