Landschap met twee vrouwen en een huis 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this landscape with two women and a house using etching techniques. Della Bella lived in Florence during the Counter-Reformation, a period of intense religious and political change. At first glance, the etching presents a serene pastoral scene. Yet, consider the figures depicted. Two women are in the foreground, one carrying a heavy load. This labor contrasts with the relative leisure suggested by the distant house. What does it mean to see women burdened by labor? The landscape invites us to consider the lives of those who inhabit it. What stories do these women carry? Della Bella’s choice to include these figures asks us to consider the lives of those often unseen. The emotional resonance of this work lies in its subtle commentary on labor, gender, and the quiet dignity of everyday life.