Roman Landscape n.d.

Hendrik Voogd created this print, titled "Roman Landscape", using etching. Voogd, a Dutch artist, spent much of his career in Rome. During this time, Rome was a popular destination for Northern European artists seeking to absorb classical and Renaissance influences. This landscape, with its serene evocation of nature, reflects the cultural fascination with the Italian countryside that was en vogue at the time. Yet, the image is mediated through Voogd’s cultural lens as a Dutchman living in Italy. How does an outsider perceive and represent a landscape that isn't his own? The solitary figure in the foreground prompts us to reflect on ideas of belonging, identity, and cultural displacement. Voogd was quoted as saying, "Nature is my religion, and Rome is its Vatican". This quote encapsulates the artist's deep emotional and spiritual connection to the Roman landscape. "Roman Landscape" invites us to consider our own relationships to places, and how our identities shape our perceptions.