How did landscape painting change Western art during the 17th and 18th centuries?

During the 17th and 18th centuries, landscape painting evolved from a background element into a significant genre that fundamentally shifted how nature and humanity were represented in Western art.1

The 17th Century: Idealism and Realism

In the 17th century, two primary traditions emerged:

• Classical Landscape: Led by artists like Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorrain, this style depicted mythic, harmonious scenes of Arcadia. These works sought to elevate the genre by using nature to convey metaphorical, biblical, or mythological meanings, often emphasizing the heroic power of nature over humanity.12
• Dutch Realism: Artists such as Jacob van Ruisdael and Meindert Hobbema focused on the distinctive flatlands and expansive, cloud-filled skies of the Netherlands. These paintings used the vastness of the landscape to reflect on the relationship between humanity and the natural world.134

The 18th Century: Rococo and the Picturesque

In the 18th century, the focus shifted toward decorative and lyrical styles:

• Rococo: French painters like Antoine Watteau and François Boucher created fêtes galantes—lighthearted, delicate scenes of leisure and outdoor amusement.1
• The Picturesque: By the late 18th century, the concept of the picturesque emerged as an aesthetic ideal. It favored variety, irregularity, and interesting textures, often finding beauty in medieval ruins set within natural landscapes. This movement acted as a reaction against the rigid order of Neoclassicism, influencing both painting and landscape gardening.5