The Crafty Bird-Catcher (Insidiosus auceps), from "The Large Landscapes" (ca. 1555–56, Met-Objekt 1956)
Original title: The Crafty Bird-Catcher (Insidiosus auceps), from "The Large Landscapes"
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1555–56, Johannes van Doetecum I executed 'The Cunning Birdcatcher' (Insidiosus auceps) in etching and engraving for the series 'The Large Landscapes'. It presents an expansive landscape with mountains, a river, and a village in the foreground where several figures are active.
Description
Meticulously worked mountains with rocky faces and vegetation rise in the distance; before them lies a plain with a village of numerous houses and a church with a tower. Fields surround the village, where figures go about their agricultural work. On the left, a river with boats flows past, clouds fill the sky, and two birds fly in the upper right. The whole is monochrome, built up with fine lines and hatching.
Context
The print was made in the mid-16th century in the Netherlands, when landscapes in printmaking were increasingly in demand. Van Doetecum was one of the important engravers of his time and often worked after other artists' designs. 'The Large Landscapes' is one of the early large-format landscape series, combining wide vistas with scenes of everyday life.
Impact
Care in execution and a clear composition give the sheet a calm, ordered presence that draws the eye into the landscape. The fine hatching creates depth and texture and underscores the natural character of the subject.
Technique
The work was executed as an etching with additional engraving; it is the first of two states. Fine lines and cross-hatching bring out shadows and surfaces of rocks, trees, and buildings. The printing plate measures 32.8 x 43.2 cm, the sheet 35 x 45.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)