Landscape with a Road beside a Canal c. 1652

This is an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, entitled 'Landscape with a Road beside a Canal.' Considered in its historical context, we can say that this landscape is a commentary on the increasing urbanization of the Netherlands in the 17th Century. Rembrandt was a master of light and shadow, and here he uses these techniques to create a sense of depth and atmosphere that reflects the growth of Amsterdam as a center for trade and culture. Canals were the arteries of this economic activity and Rembrandt situates the viewer on the banks, looking through the domestic, rural landscape towards the distant city in the background. In his time, the etching was not only an artistic expression but also a commodity, sold in multiples and traded among collectors. Art history relies on understanding social and institutional contexts, using archival research and knowledge of contemporary culture to get closer to the social function of the work.