Landschap met jagers te paard 1580 - 1600

Johann Sadeler I created this landscape with horsemen, sometime between 1550 and 1601 using engraving techniques. Sadeler lived in an era marked by stark social hierarchies where nobility enjoyed hunting as a privilege. This work captures this dynamic, reflecting the rigid class structure of the time. The landscape itself almost becomes a stage upon which the drama of social stratification is played out, as hunting was often used as a means to assert dominance and territorial control. There is a distinct emotional quality to this piece, a sense of the quiet, relentless march of power and privilege. Sadeler’s engraving prompts us to consider how landscapes are not merely backdrops, but active participants in shaping and reflecting societal issues. The image resonates deeply on a personal level, inviting us to reflect on our own positions within the larger landscape of social and political history.