Rivierlandschap met visser 1659 - 1695

Jean-Baptiste Corneille made this etching, River Landscape with a Fisherman, in the late 17th century. Corneille was a painter and printmaker working in France during the reign of Louis XIV. This etching exemplifies the period's fascination with classical landscapes and idealised nature, even though it’s also rooted in the Dutch landscape tradition. The tranquil scene, with its carefully arranged elements of water, trees, and distant buildings, reflects the desire for order and harmony that characterised French art and society under the Sun King. Louis XIV established the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, promoting a unified artistic style that celebrated the grandeur of the French state. Corneille, as an academician, would have been deeply influenced by these institutional forces, and this print reveals the way artists of the time were trained to create images that conveyed a sense of balance and control. Looking at such artworks through a historical lens allows us to understand the complex interplay between artistic expression and the cultural values of the time. Accessing archives and historical documents can give more insights into the Académie's influence and the social context that shaped Corneille's vision.