Zes mannen- en vrouwenkoppen en een landschap met dorp in de verte 1744

Christian Ludwig von Hagedorn made this print of men's and women's heads and a landscape with a village in the distance, sometime in the 18th century. Hagedorn, from what is now Germany, worked at a time when the academies of art had become powerful institutions. These prints are likely studies for larger works. They show that Hagedorn focused on learning and mastering the fundamentals of his craft: the depiction of human figures and natural settings. These are standard academic subjects. We see his virtuosity in the way that he captures the differences in the figures' clothing and facial features. Note the contrast between the rough textures of the headwear and the smooth skin of their faces. The landscape at the bottom is a study in perspective. Art historians consult drawings and prints like this to learn about the training and development of artists working within specific institutions. Examining his etchings teaches us about his mastery of social codes and artistic conventions.