Landschap met Diana en haar jachthonden c. 1545 - 1585

This is an etching depicting ‘Landschap met Diana en haar jachthonden’, or Landscape with Diana and her hunting dogs. The artist is unknown, but we can still learn a lot about the artwork itself. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, sits gracefully, surrounded by nature, and is a figure often used to represent both power and femininity. We might consider how the artist, despite being unknown, uses the female figure to explore themes of autonomy and the relationship between women and the natural world. Who was this work made for? It is a small piece, so most probably someone who was wealthy enough to own art for pleasure. The ability to own art suggests a level of social and economic privilege, raising questions about the accessibility and representation within the art world. The delicate lines of the etching invite us to reflect on the details and the broader narratives that resonate in society and culture.