Landschap met uitzicht op een rivier c. 1648

Jean Galiot Nardois made this landscape with a view of a river as an etching. The image is full of classical, idealizing visual codes. We see idealized shepherds and livestock which were intended to evoke a sense of harmony and order. We might ask to what extent these artificial constructs served the interests of certain powerful elites? This image may have been made in France, a country with a deeply ingrained class system, and a rigid academy structure. These institutions upheld very specific artistic values, which often promoted the interests of those in power. The artwork can thus be read as a reflection of, or even a subtle comment on, the social structures of its time. Was Nardois intentionally reinforcing social norms, or perhaps subtly critiquing the established order? As historians, we can delve into period documents, social commentaries, and art criticism to fully understand the institutional context in which this image was made. By investigating these resources, we can better understand the social meaning of art.