Stop at an Inn (1785)

Dated 1785, "Stop at an Inn" is an artwork by Conrad Gessner. Context for 1785: In Japan, ukiyo-e woodblock printing flourished in the Edo period and made colour prints a popular and affordable art form. The eighteenth century began with the light, ornamental Rococo, especially in France, and moved towards the clarity and antique references of Neoclassicism by the end of the century. It is listed in the Plants & Animals collection. The image is in landscape orientation. Plants & Animals, a short history: Images of plants and animals run from medieval herbals and bestiaries to the scientific illustration of the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Images of plants and animals are valued both for the care of their observation and for their decorative appeal.

Everything for "Stop at an Inn" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

Swiss, 1764–1826

If you like the visual language of Conrad Gessner, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.