Landscape c. 18th century

Editor: This is "Landscape" by François Vivares, an etching. The scene feels so constructed, so deliberately picturesque. What do you notice about how this image might reflect the values of its time? Curator: Well, consider the audience. This print was produced and distributed by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. What kind of "arts" do you think *they* were interested in promoting? Editor: Something that reflects well on British society, maybe? Like a well-ordered landscape showing their control over nature? Curator: Exactly! It suggests a tamed and prosperous countryside, projecting a particular image of British identity and power. We see a picturesque vision that serves as propaganda. Editor: So the image is less about accurately depicting a landscape and more about selling an idea? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Precisely. This print reveals the complex relationship between art, patronage, and the construction of national identity.