Landschap met lezende monnik c. 1640

Salvator Rosa created this etching, *Landscape with a Reading Monk,* sometime in the mid-17th century. Rosa was a rebellious figure, known for his romantic landscapes that celebrated the wilder aspects of nature, reflecting the tumultuous times of the Baroque era. In this small scene, the monk, dwarfed by the landscape, sits quietly with his book. What is he reading, and what solace does he find in this act? Rosa’s own life was marked by dramatic events and strong political beliefs which he channelled into his art. He rejected the classical idealism of his predecessors, and instead, engaged with themes of human existence and the individual's place in the natural world. Look at how Rosa uses light and shadow, drawing us into the monk's secluded world. The landscape becomes more than just a backdrop; it is a space where spiritual and intellectual pursuits unfold. The image suggests a quiet but persistent questioning of societal norms through the figure of the contemplative monk.