Augustus by Simon Fokke

Augustus

1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke's Profile Picture

Simon Fokke

1712 - 1784

Location

Rijksmuseum
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Artwork details

Medium
drawing, etching
Dimensions
height mm, width mm
Location
Rijksmuseum
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#drawing#baroque#pen drawing#mechanical pen drawing#pen illustration#pen sketch#etching#old engraving style#landscape#personal sketchbook#pen-ink sketch#pen work#sketchbook drawing#storyboard and sketchbook work

About this artwork

Simon Fokke created this print, Augustus, in the Netherlands during the 18th century, using etching. At first glance, the scene depicts a peaceful landscape, a chapel nestled atop a hill, figures fishing, and a serene sky. However, prints like these played a crucial role in shaping cultural values and social norms during the Dutch Enlightenment. The picturesque aesthetic, with its emphasis on idealized nature, was deeply intertwined with notions of national identity and moral virtue. Prints were often commissioned by wealthy patrons, and widely disseminated through print shops and books, shaping public taste and reinforcing class distinctions. This particular print invites us to consider the relationship between religious institutions, the natural world, and the everyday lives of people in 18th-century Netherlands. To fully understand its meaning, we might delve into historical archives, exploring contemporary attitudes towards religion, landscape, and social hierarchy. Ultimately, the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.

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