Zonsondergang in het Rijkswoud bij Kleef 1851 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching, entitled 'Sunset in the National Forest near Kleef', using different values of grey. The sharp verticals of slender trees dominate the composition, juxtaposed against the sun’s soft rays bursting on the horizon. This dramatic contrast evokes a sense of both awe and serenity. The artist’s skill in manipulating line and tone encourages us to look beyond a simple landscape. The trees create a visual structure that organizes space in the picture while disrupting a conventional reading of depth. The forest becomes not just a place, but a constructed visual experience. The semiotic analysis reveals a deeper meaning. The setting sun, a universal symbol, is coded here to reflect the changing perceptions of nature. The print challenges fixed meanings, inviting new ways of thinking about our place in the environment. This etching reminds us that nature is not just what we see, but how we structure what we see.