Landschap met Jacob, Laban, Rachel en Lea Possibly 1777

Richard Earlom made this print, Landschap met Jacob, Laban, Rachel en Lea, in the 18th century. It shows a biblical scene set in an idealized landscape, a style popular at the time. The image is a reproduction of a painting by Claude Lorrain, a 17th-century French artist. Earlom made this print in England. The printmaking industry in England at this time played a crucial role in shaping artistic tastes. Prints made artworks accessible to a wider audience. This print helped to spread the fame of Claude Lorrain, but it also transformed his painting into a commodity. Art historians study the market for prints and the taste for certain styles like the picturesque to understand the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of art. We can examine how institutions like print shops, galleries, and art academies influenced artists like Earlom, and how they influenced the art market and taste of the 18th century.