Landschap met visser en drinkend vee c. 1643

François Collignon created this print, “Landschap met visser en drinkend vee,” or “Landscape with Fisherman and Drinking Cattle” in the 17th century. This pastoral scene represents the Dutch countryside during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement. The print subtly comments on the social structure of its time. It presents an idealized view of rural life, likely consumed by an urban elite. The cattle drinking and the fisherman at work were common motifs, reflecting the economic activities that underpinned Dutch prosperity. But the image's cultural references extend beyond mere documentation. The landscape is carefully composed, drawing on traditions of classical landscape painting, and suggesting the influence of Italianate painters working in the Netherlands at that time. To understand the artwork better, we can consult period sources such as economic surveys, travel writing and of course paintings from the era. Only through this can we understand the social and institutional context of this print.