Atalanta (...) 1731 - 1788

Johann Esaias Nilson created this print, Atalanta, in the 18th century using etching techniques. It depicts a scene with elegantly dressed figures in what appears to be a theatrical or garden setting. Nilson worked in Augsburg, Germany, a city with a rich tradition of printmaking and publishing, institutions that enabled the broad dissemination of images and ideas. Prints like this one catered to the tastes of the rising middle class, who consumed images depicting classical or mythological subjects. The print includes decorative borders and inscriptions in multiple languages, suggesting it was intended for an international audience, a sign of the increasingly global art market. Nilson's artistic choices, such as the detailed rendering of costumes and the idyllic landscape, reflect the aesthetic preferences of his time. To truly understand this work we need to see it as part of the growth of both printmaking and the art market. By consulting period documents such as trade publications, we can better appreciate the print’s significance.