Rivierlandschap 1727 - 1782

Emanuel Eichel made this print of a riverscape. It’s titled “The Diligent Washer Woman.” In this era, images of the landscape reflected cultural ideals of order and progress. Look at how the scene combines natural beauty with elements of human activity, such as the boats and buildings. The print was likely produced in the Dutch Republic, a major center for printmaking in the 18th century. Notice how the scene blends elements of fantasy and real life. This idealized version of the countryside could be seen as a reflection of the values of the rising middle class. The art market, the institutions of the Dutch Republic, were key in shaping the production of art, catering to the tastes of a growing audience for landscape imagery. To understand this print, we can look at period documents, such as estate inventories, and the publications of art theorists. Art always exists within a specific social and institutional context.