Baders bij antiek monument in bergachtig landschap 1706 - 1759

Jacob van Liender made this artwork "Bathers by an ancient monument in a mountainous landscape" with pen in gray ink and brush in gray and black ink. Van Liender created this pastoral scene during the Enlightenment, a time when the concept of nature was shifting from a wild, untamed space to a source of solace and contemplation. But, who has access to this new vision of nature? In this image, we see the antique monument, a ruin in nature. Nearby, people bathe together in the stream. I wonder, is this moment of leisure available to all? Does the monument represent a desire for an idealized past? The composition invites us to consider the relationship between humanity, history, and the natural world. It asks us to consider whose bodies and histories are included, and whose are excluded from these spaces. In this way, Van Liender's landscape becomes a space to reflect on the cultural values of his time.