Rivierlandschap met twee figuren 1643 - 1679

This River Landscape with Two Figures was made by an anonymous artist using etching. Though undated, this kind of idealized landscape was typical in the Netherlands from about 1600 onward. It reflected the social status of those who commissioned such works. As Dutch cities grew and a merchant class gained power, so did the desire to own land as status symbol. But because the country was so densely populated, wealthy citizens instead purchased landscape paintings and prints like this one, that gave them the illusion of land ownership. Notice how the landscape includes a variety of features such as trees, hills, and water. What message does this send about the owner’s financial status? What is the public role of landscape art like this? Art historians would consult estate documents and other records to try to learn more about the relationship between art and social class in the Netherlands at this time.