Italianate River Landscape c. 1650 - 1655

Adam Pijnacker painted this *Italianate River Landscape* in the mid-17th century. The painting showcases an imagined, idealized view of Italy, a common subject for Dutch Golden Age painters who, like Pijnacker himself, often travelled to Italy. Here, the depiction of labor is layered with cultural and class implications. Observe the boat and the figures, presumably wealthy travelers, waited upon by figures pushing livestock through the water, highlighting the class divisions inherent in the pastoral fantasy. It invites us to consider the lives and labor of the unseen people who made such leisurely travel possible. This idealized landscape isn't just a pretty picture; it's a window into the complex social dynamics of the time, reflecting both the allure of the exotic and the often-unacknowledged labor upon which such beauty was built.