Sommerlandschaft mit Durchblick durch einen Buchenwald 

Johann Nikolaus Gassner created this landscape with watercolor and gouache around 1680 in Augsburg, Germany. At the time, Augsburg was a Free Imperial City, a self-governing state within the Holy Roman Empire. The painting depicts a forest scene with a view of distant hills and a small stream in the foreground. But, in the 17th century, landscapes were more than just pretty pictures; they were often imbued with symbolism. This forest scene could evoke a sense of the divine in nature or represent the economic importance of forestry in the region. Gassner's choice to paint in watercolor and gouache, rather than oil, was likely influenced by the traditions of printmaking in Augsburg. The city was a major center for the production of illustrated books and prints, and watercolor was a popular medium for creating designs that would be reproduced in print. To fully understand this image, we can consult historical records, such as guild documents, tax records, and inventories of artists' studios. These will shed light on the economic and social conditions that shaped artistic production in 17th-century Augsburg.