In de Pyreneeën 1867 - 1910

Etha Fles made this image of the Pyrenees using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. In this period, printmaking became a popular medium for women artists, as it allowed for wider distribution and greater social impact. Fles's choice of the Pyrenees as a subject reflects a broader cultural interest in landscape and national identity. The depiction of nature offered a way to express feelings about nationhood. The low horizon line and dark tonality create an intimate, even melancholic mood. This aesthetic aligns with the Symbolist movement, which emphasized personal expression and emotional depth over strict realism. To fully understand Fles's work, it's crucial to consider the art institutions of her time. Were her prints displayed in public exhibitions or circulated through private networks? What kind of audience was she trying to reach? These are the questions we ask in our research, using exhibition records, period criticism, and biographical sources to reconstruct the social world of the artist.