Landschap met een dorp in rotsachtige vallei

About this artwork

nummer, verso midden onder, handgeschreven: ‘82 (?)’

Art Historical Context

This etching by Erhard Altdorfer, created sometime between 1512 and 1533, captures a dramatic rocky valley dotted with a small village nestled among cliffs and winding paths. Altdorfer, a German painter and printmaker associated with the Danube School, was among the early artists to explore landscape as a central subject rather than mere background. His works often emphasize the rugged beauty of nature, blending observation with imaginative elements typical of early 16th-century Northern European art. As an etching—a relatively new medium at the time—this print showcases the technique’s capacity for fine, expressive lines that convey texture in rock and foliage. Measuring just 119 by 161 millimeters, the intimate scale invites close viewing, highlighting Altdorfer’s skill in suggesting vast space within a compact format. Created during the Reformation era, such landscapes reflected a growing interest in the natural world as both a spiritual and aesthetic experience. The handwritten number on the verso hints at its history within a collector’s album, underscoring how prints like this circulated among scholars and artists, spreading innovative visions of the environment across Europe.