Landscape with Hewed Trees, plate17 from "Regiunculae et Villae Aliquot Ducatus Brabantiae" 1605 - 1615

Claes Jansz. Visscher created this etching, "Landscape with Hewed Trees," as part of a series depicting the Brabant region in the Netherlands. It was a period marked by significant deforestation due to urbanization and shipbuilding. Look at how the hewed trees dominate the foreground, a stark reminder of human impact on the environment. The figures in the landscape, seemingly caught in the act of working the land, offer a glimpse into the lives of the working class. The intimate depiction of labor invites us to reflect on the economic and social hierarchies of the time. Visscher's choice to include these elements speaks to the intersection of daily life and the changing landscape. While seemingly a simple landscape, the artwork subtly weaves together themes of labor, environmental change, and societal structure. It encourages us to contemplate our relationship with the natural world, and our place within it.