Landscape with Three Large Trees at the Near Right, a Castle with a Square Tower in the Distance c. 17th century

Editor: So, this etching is called "Landscape with Three Large Trees at the Near Right, a Castle with a Square Tower in the Distance," by Adam Perelle. It’s quite small. I’m struck by how idyllic it seems, almost like a stage set. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s interesting you say stage set. Perelle was working in a time when landscape prints were consumed as both art and records. Consider the market: burgeoning middle classes sought imagery that mirrored their aspirations for land ownership and social mobility. Editor: Oh, I see. Curator: These weren’t just pretty pictures, but visual arguments about power and status, performed through idealized landscapes. How might the castle factor into that? Editor: It’s a symbol of aspiration, maybe? I never thought about landscapes being political like that. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Art reflects, but also actively shapes, our understanding of the world.