Landschap met twee figuren lopend achter lastdier 1673 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle made this print, "Landscape with two figures walking behind a pack animal," in France in the 17th century. The image is presented in a circle, a format that immediately recalls the classical tradition. Prints like this offered a readily available and relatively inexpensive way for a wider audience to engage with landscapes. They brought the countryside into the urban homes of a growing middle class. It is a vision of nature that feels controlled and picturesque, rather than wild and untamed, which speaks to the evolving relationship between humans and their environment at this time. To fully understand this work, we need to examine the cultural and economic shifts of 17th-century France, looking at how the rise of a merchant class influenced artistic tastes and collecting habits. We can look at period literature and travel writing to gain insight into the social values and the changing perception of nature in this era. Ultimately, the meaning of this print resides not just in its aesthetic qualities, but in its connection to a specific moment in history.