Berglandschap met huizen aan het water 1730 - 1775

Johann Georg Hertel made this etching, "Mountainous Landscape with Houses on the Water," sometime in the 18th century. The scene depicts a humble dwelling nestled between a craggy mountain and a tranquil body of water, with a lone figure in a boat, perhaps fishing. Hertel was German, and the work reflects the growing fascination with landscape during that time. More than just pretty scenery, these landscapes often carried social and cultural meanings. The rise of the middle class created a demand for images reflecting their own lives and values, a move away from previous aristocratic patrons. This etching, with its emphasis on a simple life close to nature, may well speak to those values. To fully understand Hertel’s work, we might look at the publishing industry and print market of 18th-century Germany. Who was buying these images, and what did they signify to them? By exploring these questions, we can begin to understand the complex relationship between art and society.