Portret van Abraham van Wielen / Landschap met herder / Rivierlandschap 1727 - 1769

This is a print work by Jan Palthe, who died in 1769, comprising a portrait and two landscapes. Palthe lived during the enlightenment, a time when there was a societal drive toward reason and individualism; values which underpinned the development of portraiture and landscape art. The first engraving is a portrait of Abraham van Wielen, we see a man who seems to be of high status, conveyed through his attire. Below, we have a landscape with a shepherd who is sitting down, taking a rest while another figure follows behind. And then there’s another landscape, this time a waterscape, in which two figures stand on a boat. Each of these characters goes about their activities or rests from them. Here, Palthe may be exploring themes of man's relationship to nature. We are invited to reflect on our place within a larger world, which evokes both personal introspection and a broader understanding of society.