Zicht op het Kasteel van Aubonne 1820

Constant Bourgeois made this print of Aubonne Castle in Switzerland using etching and engraving techniques. The print’s title, "Views of Switzerland," suggests it was part of a series intended to promote Swiss identity. Switzerland's history is one of fragmentation and confederation, and images like this played a role in creating a shared sense of belonging. Note how the print emphasizes the picturesque aspects of the scene. The castle is framed by lush foliage, with a peasant figure carrying what seems to be a basket on her head in the foreground. The print romanticizes the relationship between the natural landscape, the built environment, and the laboring population. These images would have circulated among elite audiences. The history of printmaking is tied to the development of a public sphere, where ideas about nationhood could be debated and consumed. To understand this print better, we can research the history of Swiss printmaking, the role of landscape in national identity, and the changing representation of peasants in visual culture.