Plate 6: two male figures standing on a rock at right, a waterfall at center with another male figure on its left bank, from 'Landscapes in the manner of Salvator Rosa' (Die Landschaften in Sal. Rosa's) 1695 - 1730

Franz Joachim Beich created this etching, Plate 6 from 'Landscapes in the manner of Salvator Rosa', at an unknown date. At first glance, the composition leads your eye from the lower right corner, up and around the bend of the waterfall and over to the mountain in the distance. The image is dominated by a dynamic interplay of jagged rocks and wind-swept trees. Beich organizes the image using a semiotic system of lines, where each stroke contributes to the overall mood. The textures created through hatching and cross-hatching techniques form a wildness which can be found throughout 17th century landscape art. Note how the artist uses line to define the shapes of the natural forms, with short, broken lines suggesting ruggedness. Ultimately, the etching is not just a representation of nature, but an exploration of structure, form, and the dialogue between the artist and the natural world. It invites ongoing interpretation, and perhaps, a questioning of our relationship with our environment.