Plate 1: a peasant checking the hoof of his mule by a stream, from "Landscapes in the manner of Salvator Rosa" (Die Landschaften in Sal. Rosa's) 1695 - 1730

Franz Joachim Beich made this print, "Plate 1", as part of a series called "Landscapes in the manner of Salvator Rosa." The image depicts a peasant pausing by a stream to check his mule’s hoof, but it’s also an exercise in style. Beich is trying to emulate the famous Italian painter Salvator Rosa. Rosa was known for his dramatic, romantic landscapes populated by bandits and peasants. Made in Germany, Beich’s image reflects a Northern European fascination with Italian art and culture. During this time, there was a growing market for prints that reproduced the work of famous artists, allowing collectors to study and appreciate art from afar. This print reveals the increasing professionalization of art, as artists like Beich catered to a growing market for art reproductions and landscape imagery. To better understand the work of Beich we can look to the history of printmaking, the art market in 18th-century Europe, and the biography of Salvator Rosa.