Storm op het platteland 1681

Johann Eckhard Löffler created this print, Storm on the Countryside, in the mid-17th century using etching. Within an elaborate frame, we see a scene of a rural dwelling overshadowed by an approaching storm, as a farmer harvests crops. The Latin phrase above, "Ne Ovid Nimis," translates to "Don't Force Ovid Too Much," which suggests a cautionary note against excessive interpretation. The contrast between the idyllic countryside and the looming storm creates a sense of impending change. This image likely reflects the social anxieties of 17th-century Europe, a period marked by conflict, and religious and political upheaval. In the Dutch Republic where Löffler worked, there was a growing interest in landscape art and a move toward more secular styles. Art historians consult various resources, such as period documents, and cultural studies, to interpret art. These help us to situate the work within its specific historical and institutional context.