Landscape Study c. 1631

Bartholomeus Breenbergh created this Landscape Study with pen and brown ink, and brown wash, probably in the early to mid-17th century. Breenbergh was part of a wave of Northern European artists who traveled to Italy, drawn by its classical ruins and landscapes. In this drawing, you can see how the artist uses the landscape to evoke a sense of the idyllic. The brown washes create a soft light, idealizing nature. But this vision of a harmonious world often obscures the socio-political realities of the time. The land wasn't simply a backdrop; it was tied to ownership, labor, and power dynamics. While Breenbergh sought to capture the beauty of the Italian landscape, it's important to consider whose stories were left out. The image invites us to reflect on how landscapes carry multiple layers of meaning.