Brug over de Arc in Savoie 1688 - 1721

Jan Vincentsz. van der Vinne created this print titled 'Bridge over the Arc in Savoie.' During the 17th and 18th centuries, landscape art became a vehicle for expressing national identity and cultural pride. Van der Vinne, part of a family of artists, situates this print within that tradition. However, this serene depiction subtly touches on themes of labor and travel, hinting at the socio-economic structures underpinning the picturesque scene. Consider the figures dotted throughout the landscape – the travelers, the animals. These details reflect the lived experiences of people dependent on the land. These are the very people who often remain unseen in idealized landscapes. How might their stories, and the stories of those excluded from such idyllic visions, enrich our understanding of this image and the historical period it represents? This artwork isn't just a window onto a landscape; it’s also an invitation to reflect on who has access to that view and whose stories are told within it.