Two Hunters Resting n.d.

This is Anthonie Waterloo’s “Two Hunters Resting,” an etching made in the Dutch Republic sometime in the mid-17th century. In this period, the Dutch Republic, having recently won its independence, saw an explosion in the production and consumption of art among a growing middle class. Artists like Waterloo, with his landscapes and rustic scenes, catered to this market. Notice how the hunters, seemingly men of leisure, are placed within a serene, idealized nature. This reflects a broader cultural interest in the Dutch countryside, one that’s promoted by artists and landowners alike. The etching technique, which allowed for the mass production of images, democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience. Historians can look to period documents like estate inventories or guild records, to further understand the role of art in the daily lives of Dutch citizens and to see how institutions shaped the work of artists. The meaning we attach to artworks is always contingent on a deep understanding of its social and institutional context.