Rotsen bij Amalfi 1830

Jacobus van den Berg made this pencil drawing, "Rocks near Amalfi", at an unknown date. The image presents us with a view of the Italian landscape, the rocks and buildings seemingly stacked one on top of the other. In the 19th century, Amalfi was not just a physical place but a cultural construct, an important stop on the Grand Tour for northern European artists and intellectuals. The practice of sketching, as evidenced here, was central to the experience of travel and the consumption of culture. Think of it as a kind of visual note-taking. The prevalence of institutions like art academies and salons shaped both artistic production and public taste. Artists were keen to depict scenes that were both picturesque and historically significant. Historical archives, travelogues, and guidebooks can all shed light on the ways in which Amalfi was perceived and represented during this period. By examining these materials, we can better understand how the image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations.