The Large Tree c. 1628 - 1629

tree

rippled sketch texture

light pencil work

pen sketch

pencil sketch

linocut print

pen-ink sketch

pen work

sketchbook drawing

pencil work

sketchbook art

"The Large Tree" is a captivating etching by Hercules Segers, dating back to 1628-1629. This small-scale work, measuring just 217 mm by 277 mm, is known for its stark beauty and dramatic portrayal of a solitary tree dominating the landscape. The intricate details of the tree's branches and foliage, achieved through Segers' masterful use of etching, create a sense of depth and texture, while the surrounding landscape remains subtly rendered. The artist's unique style, characterized by a dark and somber palette and a focus on nature's grandeur, has earned him a place among the pioneers of Dutch landscape art.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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For this etching Segers covered virtually the entire plate with a dense pattern of intersecting lines. He blocked out features he wished to reserve. Printed on white paper this yielded subtle gradations of black and grey tones and the play of light in the tree’s leafy canopy, and elsewhere.