Lucerne
1809
Franz Niklaus König was essentially the 19th-century equivalent of a travel photographer, capturing the 'authentic' Swiss soul for tourists on the Grand Tour. In this charming scene, a seated man in a red vest and blue breeches holds a plate, gazing up at a woman dressed in a traditional blue-and-white striped skirt and a hat adorned with flowers. This piece reflects the Romantic movement's deep fascination with rural simplicity and folk culture. König’s delightful illustrations of Swiss peasants in traditional dress (Trachten) helped create the iconic visual identity of Switzerland that persists to this day.