Landschap met figuren en lastdieren 1739 - 1780

Francesco Bartolozzi created this landscape with figures and beasts, with etching. A scene of everyday life and labor is set against the sublime backdrop of the natural world. Bartolozzi was an Italian printmaker who spent much of his career in London. This work reflects the popular aesthetic of the 18th century, a time when the Grand Tour saw elites travel around Europe, collecting art and experiencing the continent's varied landscapes. This print is small, suggesting it was made for private collection. It taps into the desire for picturesque views and idealized scenes of rural life that characterized much of the art market. How does this image reinforce the existing social order, with laborers rendered as just another element in the scenery? How does it romanticize their labor? Understanding this artwork requires a look into the cultural history of the 1700s, the art market, and the role of landscape imagery in shaping social attitudes.