Landscape with a Strolling Woman 1795 - 1805

Johann Christian Klengel made this etching, *Landscape with a Strolling Woman*, at the turn of the 19th century. It presents us with a woman walking along a country path in a pastoral setting. In its time, this would have represented the romantic appreciation of the natural world, as seen in the burgeoning art institutions of Europe such as the Dresden Academy where Klengel taught. Germany at this time was experiencing social and political upheaval due to the Napoleonic wars. The rise of Romanticism in art, literature and philosophy can be seen as a response to these developments, offering an idealized vision of nature and a nostalgic view of rural life. To understand the context of the artwork better, we can examine the archives of art academies and consider the writings of contemporary figures to gain a greater insight into the appeal of landscape art. Through this we can understand art as something deeply connected to social and institutional contexts.