Landschap met twee kuipers voor een huis omringd door houten constructies 1750 - 1778

Georg Leopold Hertel created this etching called "Landscape with Two Coopers in Front of a House Surrounded by Wooden Structures" sometime before his death in 1778. The image presents an interesting look at the labor and living conditions of the cooper, a craftsman who makes wooden casks, barrels, and other similar containers. Made in the German territories of the Holy Roman Empire, this image reflects the interest in the lives of the laboring classes that became more widespread in the 18th century. We see the coopers in their natural surroundings, not idealized or romanticized, but as part of the landscape. It’s worth asking: who was the intended audience for this print? Was it meant to inform or to entertain? The image gives us an insight into the social and economic structures of the time. Further research into the history of coopering and the social conditions of craftsmen in 18th century Germany would help us understand the artwork better. By combining an understanding of the artwork with an understanding of its social and institutional context, we can gain a richer appreciation of its meaning and significance.