Landschap met twee wandelaars bij een boom 1613 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle made this print of a landscape with two walkers by a tree, using etching techniques, sometime in the second half of the 17th century. In this period, landscape prints were very popular. They offered views of the world, but more importantly, they reflected ideas about humanity’s place in nature. This print presents us with an idealised vision of rural life. We see two figures walking towards us, seemingly enjoying the view. Further back, there are peasants with their animals. In the distance, there are buildings and architectural ruins, reminding us of past civilisations. This is, in essence, a reflection of the social structures of the time. The print would have been relatively cheap to produce and was available to a wide range of people. Prints like this were thus significant in spreading new ideas about landscape and its relation to the world and society. To understand this artwork better, we need to consider the printmaking industry in 17th-century France, the role of the artist in society, and the relationship between rural and urban life.