Landscape with a village and a river

The resting travellers have taken off their heavy luggage before continuing their climb. This print belongs to the series of the eight Bohemian landscapes (Central Europe). On the various tops of the hills down below we see the typical architecture of the region. The depth effect can be called magnificent. Typical are the central rocks with the trees, the sun and its rays, the little bridge and the figures in the foreground who play an important part in the composition. He combines the landscapes of the region with more fantastic natural and architectural details. Little is known about the life of the artist Pieter II Stevens from Mechelen (Belgium). He may have travelled around 1590 to Italy. On 15 April 1594 he was appointed court painter to Emperor Rudolph II. He remained in Prague until 1624, where he must have had contact with the print publishers Sadeler and the painter Savery. Like Savery he painted and drew only landscapes during his sojourn in Prague.