Waterval in de rivier de Aniene te Tivoli Possibly 1670 - 1717

This is Pieter Schenk's print “Waterval in de rivier de Aniene te Tivoli,” or Waterfall in the River Aniene at Tivoli. Schenk, who was born in Germany and later moved to Amsterdam, was working at a time when the Dutch Republic was a major center for cartography and printmaking. This print, with its detailed depiction of the Italian landscape, speaks to a growing interest in travel and exploration. The image presents a romanticized vision of nature, but I encourage you to consider the human presence. On the right, figures are depicted near the waterfall, suggesting a narrative. How might their social identities influence their relationship with the landscape? What stories might be unfolding here? In essence, Schenk invites us to reflect on the interplay between nature, culture, and human experience. The print encapsulates the era's fascination with distant lands, and the human stories interwoven with these landscapes.