Rebecca and Eliezer taking leave of her father, Bethuel, set in a landscape, a large tree to the left 1635 - 1645

Claude Lorrain made this etching, "Rebecca and Eliezer taking leave of her father, Bethuel," in the mid-17th century, a period when French art and culture were consolidating power under the monarchy. Lorrain specialized in landscapes that placed biblical or mythological figures in an idealized vision of the countryside. Notice the careful arrangement of light and shadow, directing our eye through the scene. The classical architecture and balanced composition evoke a sense of order and harmony. Lorrain worked in Rome, and his art reflects the influence of classical antiquity and the patronage of wealthy elites. Landscape painting at this time wasn’t just about pretty scenery. It reflected ideas about land ownership, social hierarchy, and the relationship between humanity and nature. To understand Lorrain's art better, we can look at the social and economic history of 17th-century Europe, the rise of landscape painting as a genre, and the role of the French Academy in shaping artistic taste. Art history is about understanding the ideas and values that shaped the past.