Heilige Familie met Zacharias en Elisabet in een landschap 1783

Adam von Bartsch created this chalk manner print, "Holy Family with Zacharias and Elizabeth in a Landscape," in the late 18th century. The print depicts a biblical scene in an idyllic landscape. The Holy Family, along with Zacharias and Elizabeth, are presented in a peaceful setting, evoking a sense of divine tranquility. But why was Bartsch drawn to religious subjects, at a time of political upheaval in Europe? This was a period when the traditional role of the church was being questioned, and artists were exploring new ways to depict religious themes, often seeking a more personal or emotional connection. The print is also a product of the institutions of art. Bartsch was the director of the Albertina in Vienna, which held a large collection of prints, and it’s clear that he saw printmaking as a way of reproducing and disseminating art. The institutions of art are always shaping the production and reception of art, and that studying them is a vital part of being an art historian.