Dimensions: height 95 mm, width 130 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This is a photographic reproduction of a painting by Anselm Schmitz, who was working in the 19th century. The image captures a mountainous landscape with water in Westfalen. During Schmitz's lifetime, ideas about national identity were burgeoning throughout Europe. Landscape paintings became a common way to express national pride, portraying the beauty and majesty of one's homeland, but this image does not have the grand scale you might expect, nor the dramatic lighting. The black and white medium adds another layer, muting the colors and drama of the original painting. Looking at this reproduction, I wonder about accessibility. Were photographic reproductions like this one made and sold to those who couldn't afford the original? Did this make landscape painting, and therefore patriotic feelings, more accessible? What do you think?
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