Landschap met zittend paartje 1597 - 1600

Hendrick Goltzius made this landscape with a seated couple using metal engraving, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century. The process of engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The density and direction of the engraved lines create the illusion of light, shadow, and texture. Here, Goltzius uses these precise lines to depict everything from the leafy canopy of the trees to the rolling hills in the distance. The landscape as a subject in itself was relatively new at this time, and was made possible by the rise of a merchant class with money to spend on decorative items, like prints. This print, therefore, speaks not only to Goltzius's skill as an engraver, but also to the changing social and economic conditions of his time. It is a reminder that art is always embedded in the world of labor, materials, and commerce.