Landscape c. 17th century

Curator: This is Crescenzio Onofri's "Landscape," an etching measuring about 26 by 38 centimeters. The image presents a dark, almost brooding, foreground of trees set against a distant landscape. Editor: It feels so textured, doesn't it? I'm drawn to the way the ink creates depth, especially in the density of the foliage. You can almost feel the different weights of the etched lines. Curator: Onofri was working within a specific tradition of landscape—one that idealizes nature but also acknowledges its power. The print medium allowed for wider dissemination of such views, shaping perceptions of nature and the pastoral. Editor: And consider the labor involved—the repetitive action of etching, the careful layering of lines to build up tone. It highlights the relationship between artistic skill and the physical act of making. Curator: Absolutely. Onofri's landscapes also speak to the growing interest in nature that reflects a very specific social and political power dynamic, where access to land and its resources were increasingly concentrated. Editor: Looking closely at the materiality really lets me consider the process of how the image was crafted, and how the artist's labor becomes intrinsically linked to the artwork itself. Curator: Examining Onofri's work with a lens of social power helps us better understand the cultural values assigned to land and ownership at the time. Editor: I agree, and seeing the landscape through the lens of labor and production makes me appreciate the artist’s skill in a whole new way.