Landschap met figuren bij een monument en een riviergezicht 1771

This landscape with figures by Johann Andreas Benjamin Nothnagel invites us into an 18th-century vision of nature. Born in Germany in 1729, Nothnagel lived during a time of great social change, as old regimes began to give way to new Enlightenment ideals. This etching presents an idealized landscape, a common theme during the Enlightenment period. The figures in the scene appear to be at leisure, perhaps members of the privileged class who could afford to spend their time in nature. The classical monument in the landscape adds a layer of cultural sophistication, reminiscent of ancient civilizations and a connection to the past. But, it is hard to ignore the colonial undertones that may have influenced the image. The exoticized nature of the landscape reminds us of how nature and people were often exoticized during that time. As you reflect on this image, consider the ways in which the idyllic depictions of nature intersect with class, culture, and the colonial legacy that shaped the era.