Reizigers op een ezel 1650 - 1705

Herman van Swanevelt made this print, "Travelers on a Donkey," sometime in the 17th century. Van Swanevelt, a Dutch artist, spent much of his career in Rome, where he became known for his landscapes. This idyllic scene, with its serene light, classical ruins, and small figures, embodies the romanticized vision of the Italian countryside popular at the time. Look at the travelers in the foreground: the person riding the donkey is almost certainly a person of means while the people walking alongside them, carrying their belongings, are likely servants. The artist subtly embeds class distinctions into this vision of pastoral life. Notice how the people are dwarfed by the landscape, perhaps reflecting a belief in the overwhelming power of nature. This print invites us to imagine ourselves within this landscape, contemplating both its beauty and its social dynamics.