Landschaft Mit Bileam 

Joseph Anton Koch made this landscape with Balaam using etching, a printmaking technique, during his time in Rome. The image shows a biblical scene in which the prophet Balaam is stopped on his journey by an angel. Prints like this one were part of a thriving market for religious imagery in nineteenth-century Europe. The image creates meaning through familiar visual codes; the bright angel contrasts with the dark landscape and fearful figures of Balaam and his soldiers. This would have been a clear sign to Koch's contemporary audience that divine power was at play. Such images allowed people to engage with religious narratives in their own homes. The cultural references and historical associations of the print would have been clear to Koch’s contemporaries, many of whom, whether Catholic or Protestant, would have been familiar with the bible story. Understanding this artwork fully requires us to consider the print market of Koch's time. Resources such as catalogues and advertisements can reveal the ways such images were circulated and understood. Considering these factors allows us to understand the role that art plays in its social and institutional context.