Landschap met klooster aan rivier 1613 - 1695

This is 'Landscape with Monastery by a River,' an etching made by Nicolas Perelle in France during the second half of the 17th century. Here we see a style of landscape that became popular throughout Europe during this period. It's a carefully constructed image using established visual codes to evoke a sense of harmony and order. The monastery, placed in the middle distance, suggests the presence of religion and learning in the landscape, while the figures in the foreground remind us of the classical tradition of history painting. Images like this would have been very popular with wealthy landowners, who often hung landscapes in their homes as statements of their own power and taste. The etching was a relatively inexpensive medium, but its images still circulated amongst the elite members of society. By studying the landscape prints of this era, alongside estate records and other documents, we can better understand the relationship between art, power, and social class in early modern Europe.