Landschap met vissers 1762

Francesco Bartolozzi made this etching called ‘Landscape with Fishermen,’ sometime in the late 18th century. It captures a scene of leisure and pastoral life, but it’s important to consider the social context in which this image was produced. Bartolozzi was working during a time of great social and economic change in Europe. The rise of the middle class and the growth of cities were transforming traditional ways of life. Landscape paintings like these were in high demand among wealthy patrons. They offered a vision of rural life that was idealized and nostalgic. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. The natural scenery refers back to classical traditions which emphasized beauty and harmony. The leisurely figures suggest the values of elegance and refinement, while ignoring the realities of rural life. As a historian, I would look into the history of printmaking and the art market to better understand the circulation and reception of images like these. In doing so, we can unpack the ways that art reflects and shapes social values.