Albury with tree-stump in foreground 1645

Wenceslaus Hollar etched "Albury with tree-stump in foreground" using ink on paper in the 17th century. Hollar was Bohemian, but he spent much of his career in England, where he made topographical views for the gentry. In this etching, we see Albury, a grand estate in Surrey. Hollar’s image provides insight into the cultural values of the time. Note the careful cultivation of the landscape. The sharply receding rows might remind you of the geometrical arrangements of Renaissance gardens. These features imply wealth and power – dominion over nature. The imposing house sits on elevated ground, literally lording it over the surrounding area. The very act of making and circulating such images served to reinforce social hierarchies. To fully understand Hollar’s work, it helps to examine estate records, social histories, and other images of the period. These resources enable us to better understand how art reflected and shaped the world in which it was created.