Landscape with a Couple Going to Market, Three Large Trees to the Left c. 17th century

Editor: This is Adam Perelle's "Landscape with a Couple Going to Market, Three Large Trees to the Left." It's a small print, quite detailed, and it gives me a peaceful feeling. What's your take on this work? Curator: The etching itself tells a story about production. Look at the fine lines, the labor-intensive process required to create this image. It was likely reproduced and consumed widely. How does this inform our understanding of landscape art at the time? Editor: So, you're saying the means of making it – the printing process – is as important as the scene itself? Curator: Exactly! The materiality and accessibility of this print reveals much about the art market and social context of 17th-century art consumption. Editor: That's a completely different way of seeing it; I was only focused on the landscape! Curator: Considering the production and distribution opens up new layers of meaning.